Dave@Moon

I just ran into my biggest CL buggaboo again today. It's the ad for something you want to buy, you read through a thorough description that sounds good,..., and at the end they demand to be emailed a phone number only so that they can call you to buy their thing. If that doesn't spell scam I don't know what does. I can understand being hesitant to sell online to someone through an email only, and/or wanting to screen people who contact you for an item. However who would just hand out their phone number to a completely anonymous entity with nothing more than a temporary CL email?:confused: BTW, never meet ANYONE to sell an item at your home. One of my best friends had his car trailer stolen the night he listed it on CL and agreed to show it to someone the next day. That night the "buyer" stole it. I usually use the McDonalds down the street, meeting people there. I'm sure there are other horror stories as well. Also, if you want to have fun someday go to Waffle House and order the large tossed salad. (Yup, there's one on the menu!) I ordered one from the head waitress at a training Waffle House. (There were at least 3 people being trained for other restaurants at the time.) After 10 minutes she finally broke down and called the manager on his cell to ask how to make one. "How do you make a large salad?" was ringing through that place longer than it took me to eat the plate of lettuce I got. I guess waffle joints don't sell too many salads!

I saw a number of videos like that in environmental emergency response training. More than a few featured the vidographer's last moments. That VW driver (eventually) had the right idea. That was not something where anyone should have been within filming distance.

West's list of condition categories here is the traditional definitions of each numbered category. However of note the top condition attainable for an unrestored original here is #2, #1 being reserved solely for perfectly "restored" cars. Recently (within the last 10-15 years or so), a greater appreciation for unrestored original cars has taken hold of the hobby, and frequently those cars' values outpace #1 condition cars if truly original and excellent in condition. This is especially true of very desirable cars like the '55-'57 Thunderbirds. It is said that the car does not run. This is a mechanical issue that can (hopefully) be easily addressed and will not effect the "original" status of the car if done properly. The rest of it's condition is unknown here. I would strongly suggest, if the car is sound and of reasonable appearance, to spend the money to have it appraised professionally. Even if it's pretty rough, if the car is a low-mileage original with "the factory air still in the tires" (to use a phrase often applied to these cars) then it could be undervalued using the strict #1-#6 value scale. Quite seriously undervalued under certain circumstances, in fact, for a car like this Thunderbird.

Apparently natural wonders hold the interest of even Corvette fans, or (better) visa-versa. http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/06/26/national-corvette-museum-to-preserve-a-portion-of-the-sinkhole-for-display-fate-of-corvettes-uncertain/?refer=news

+1

While the 3.9L engine (Model AJ-30 in 2002, AJ-35 thereafter) was based on Jaguars AJ-V8 design, it was built exclusively in Lima, OH in a Ford engine plant and is unique to the Thunderbird and Lincoln LS. The transmission (a 5-speed automatic only) was a generic Ford C3 (model 5R55S) that was little different (it incorporated a manual-like "Select Shift") from Ford automatics found in Ranger/Explorer models and Australian Ford Falcons.

I always liked them, and I still think they're one of the most attractive cars ever to wear the name. They failed (it must be said miserably) INMO for only one reason: they were ungodly expensive given their content and character. If they could have sold the car for $28K instead of $35K+ (in 2002 dollars) I think it would probably still be with us. It would be a no-brainer to say that this is one of the most collectible cars of the 21st Century thus far. The rarity caused by the high initial pricing will only enhace that.

I find that the new-fangled plastic coffee cans actually do a better job of this than the old paint/metal coffee cans. They're lighter and the lids are easier to use, and they (usually) have a handle-like shape on one side.

When I lived in PA I was told many times (but never saw it on paper) that sealed beam headlights were required when driving a registered antique after sundown, but otherwise there were no restrictions apart from those for the car's year of manufacture.

It is available, and it's not any cheaper.

The shape of that vent window definitely identifies the car as a 1953 Pontiac Catalina 2 door hardtop.

They're all Kaisers. I see 2 1951s, a 1951 Frazer, a 1950/49 Kaiser or Frazer, and a Henry J that is likely a 1951 model as well. The sedan behind the pillar could be any 1947-50 K-F sedan.

I had to miss the vintage races at Indy this year due to family commitments. Looks like I missed something pretty special. https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/priceless--57-corvette-ss-race-car-gets-a-litte-smoky-at-indy-211557017.html I've stood and gawked at that $1 million car for hours in the Indy Museum. Missing the chance to see it run really hurts.

I've never eaten there, but there are 6 Gold Star Chili locations listed there online. That's not something you'll find at all much further from Cincy. The nearest Skyline is in Dry Ridge, KY, about 3/4ths the way to Cincy from Lexington.

Big Art's BBQ is easy to find. It's at the intersection of Struble and Pippen Roads in Colerain Twp., near Mt. Healthy. It's a typical hole-in-the-wall place that most great BBQ comes from. Just follow the smokehouse aroma! The other place I prefer to M.I. is smoQ. It's more of a trendy eatery than a true BBQ spot, but I really like their sauces & rub (especially their ribs). It's located next to the Springdale 18 movie theater at the Rt. 4 interchange on I-275 in Springdale.

Had to miss Ault Park this year for my daughter's high school graduation. That's 2 years in a row. I hate missing that show. BTW, I know at least 2 places in Cincy with (INMO) better BBQ than Montgomery Inn. As usual the best one (Art's Place) is a hole-in-the-wall place off any main road. Also when in Cincy there are 2 truly local foods that must be tried. Goetta sausage for breakfast (found at Perkin's Restaurants and many other places), and Cincinnati chili (the 2 main local chains being Skyline and Gold Star). The chili isn't anything like the rest of the country's chili, it's a spicy Greek spaghetti sauce best served with a ton of shredded cheddar. Finally between The Hoffbrau House (yes, it's part of the German original) and the Mt. Carmel & Moerlein microbreweries we do a lot better than the national brands on beers here as well! :cool:

I think that's a given. At that value you could rebuild it from nothing more than a VIN # and data plate and still be ahead. However it's still a heavy loss as the rebuilt "new" car looks to likely be little more than a recreation from the looks of what's left here.

The oil companies (virtually in unison) recommend NOT to use any oil more than 5 years old. Additives separate out and precipitate over time, with lighter components even able to sublimate through today's plastic containers*. If the container has been opened and is no longer sealed the 5 year figures is reduced to (in most cases) 2 years. *Have you ever noticed that an old plastic container of 90W gear oil will appear slightly collapsed? This is why, and it even occurs with heavyweight lubes like 90W. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_motor_oil_have_a_shelf_life?#slide=1 http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/530157-motor-oil-age.html

One of the saddest sites I can remember re. antique cars: https://autos.yahoo.com/news/tree-crushes-million-dollar-toyota-2000-gt-170015625.html

Looks VERY like the GEM Manufacturing aftermarket ornament #402. Might be an earlier version.

This coming weekend (June 7/8) the PBS show Motorweek will be running a feature on these new Nissan taxis, if anyone's interested.

I don't care who you are, that's funny! I think you could probably add "who", "how", "where", "when", and "with what" to that..., and while it would likely dilute the humor I see no change in the meaning and intent. If anybody out there really thinks that critiquing a study in the way that caused Joe to make these comments means anything in the real world, I fail to see how the real world could possibly make sense to that person. Why have seat belts and air bags if all you have to do is aim your engine block at your...I guess you'd have to say "opponent"(?)? I'll make this simple: safe cars sacrifice themselves for you and battering rams are not safe cars. That is proven scientific fact. To presume or argue otherwise is folly, possibly deadly folly. Don't do it.

I thought I'd post a link to the IIHS summary for just about the least safe car to be in an accident in sold recnetly in the U.S. Of course I don't expect some people to believe it, for obvious reasons (see post above), but a little fact is helpful in any discussion. http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/ford/crown-victoria

It depends on the year. My first antique was a 1960 Falcon that was my daily driver for 3+ years in graduate school. It had a 144 cu. in. 6 with a two speed automatic (too low & too high!). In 1961 they introduced the optional 170 cu, in. 6. Both motors were anemic, and gas mileage varied a lot. My Falcon got anywhere between 16 and 30 mpg on the highway depending on which way the wind was blowing. (The cars are absolutely horrendous aerodynamically.) It had a top speed of 75 mph on a good day in top nick, which is slow by anyone's standards. The 260 V8 didn't come out until 1963 1/2. By the time the Mustang came out in 1964 it had a 200 cu. in. 6, which I think was still an option in the Falcon with 170 by then as standard. The V8s were optional, and the same between the 2 cars. I think by 1966 both cars had the same engines available. Falcons are robust cars that (frankly) don't handle well even by the standards of their day (although they're hardly unsafe), and have a serious propensity to rust. The most interesting bodies (hardtop & convertible) were only made from 1963 1/2 to 1965, unlike almost all the other compacts. They are all quite handsome, which most people tend to forget until one is in front of them. Try a few to see if you like them. Personally I prefer the Dart/Valiant compacts, which equal the Falcon in all the positive points and (especially for the Dart) come in some VERY attractive and interesting body styles. I also think that (if their torsion bar suspensions are in good nick) they handle better as well. Hardtops are available for all years 1960-1976 (except 1967-169 Valiant), along with convertibles through the 1960s and the Duster/Demon in the 1970s. That's just a personal preference, however.

Thanks Joe. I was hoping somebody besides me would have to make this point!