greenie

Thanks all. I ran into a friend who is a Cadillac lover. He says 1941, maybe into 1946. It was at the Mason Dixon Oil and Gas Show at the Frederick Fairgrounds (MD). It’s his wall hanger now!

For you Caddy guys- factory or reproduction? What year? Cover is 14 inch diameter. Thanks!

All sold - Facebook marketplace

For the few sales I have made, the funds meander around to my bank account several days after the sale. Let’s face it, Epay ain’t what it used to be. Buyer interest in used auto parts, on eBay, is way down from its peak several years ago. On the bright side, the EBay malaise seems to have contributed to a rebirth of sorts at swap meets. Despite Covid, the Carlisle slate of events and their accompanying swap meets had good traffic last year. This year seems poised to be even better. Let’s hope that equates to a great Hershey week. Ebay moves in its own little universe. They make frequent changes intended to improve their bottom line and help them (try) to compete with Amazon. It’s still the only online auction that reaches a large audience; it’s just the audience has grown weary.

Thanks, but I must admit I was hoping it came off of something a little more, well, special......

Nothing special, except the chrome “handle”. Anyone know the application? Thanks!

The ‘67-‘72 Ford trucks are great; but I own a ‘70 F-100 Explorer. These trucks changed grille styles each year, while the sheet metal remained unchanged. The Chevy/GMC’s of this era are a hot item right now, but the Fords are gaining popularity. As they were mass produced, there are loads of spare parts floating around. It’s not unusual to see NOS fenders and rust free doors at swap meets. On the East Coast, FWD examples would be very rare. Not so much in the northwest where the forestry industry demanded off road capability.

Most of the early-season east coast swap meets have again fallen victim to Covid-19. As the infection seems to be receding, thankfully; and as more and more of us get vaccinated , thankfully, the 2-day swap meet at the Carroll County AG Center (March 26-27) seems to be hanging on. It’s mostly indoor, but the County has allowed indoor flea markets this winter with social distancing and, of course, mask wearing. It’s a nice facility with plenty of free parking. If the weather permits, there will be outdoor vendors also.

Did Olds use a Phillips headed screw in 1947? Or should you have something similar with a straight cut head? Just asking...

Me thinks the folks on the cover of the Chuck Wagon News are largely responsible for that week we know as the Fall Meet. That one should be saved!

NJ show March 21? Do you mean March 28 at Salem County Fairgrounds? Please fill us in.

Let me throw another can of gas on the fire. I bought my ‘46 gmc pickup in 1997. When it needed a battery, the fellow at my local battery warehouse convinced me to try their 8-volt battery. The truck has no radio and is rarely (never!) driven at night, NTL- it has never blown a bulb. He instructed me to adjust the voltage regulator to 10 volts and that keeps the battery happy. As it sits for months I keep an 8-volt Battery tender on it. The Battery Warehouse batteries have averaged 7-9 years of life. Many will remember Sol who used to be a vendor at Carlisle and Hershey, selling Battery Tenders and Paint remover. I asked him early on about an 8-volt unit and he told me they were no longer available; but he would “prod” the manufacturer about making another run. Several months later, at Hershey, he handed me my new tender. It’s over 20 years old now and has never been unplugged for more than a day. We could get along fine with a 6-volt battery, all the cables and such were new when I bought the truck- but the 8-volt spins the starter better and gets the truck going faster.

The Swigart Auto Museum is one of those little gems you have to visit at least once. The Swigart family history is intertwined with the AACA. Saying it’s out in the country is an understanding. When you go, also stop at the Horseshoe Curve railroad site for a great railroad history lesson. We visited both of these sites after we toured the 911 Memorial. Plan on spending 2 days in the area.

Although the show needs subtitles for us, like WD they show some detail the work that is done on the cars. Unlike many shows where a total wreck becomes a finished beauty during a long commercial. I suspect the Flipping Bangers guys would be right at home walking the Hershey swap meet.

Wheeler Dealer is making another transition. They closed up their Southern California shop and are apparently headed back to the UK. Hopefully they will continue to entertain us.

I wonder if anyone here remembers an auction that was held in the 1980’s to sell an old bar/restaurant just north of Frederick, MD. The place later opened as Cactus Flats. The property had a 1932 Studebaker Dictator, 2 door convertible parked to the side. It had been there so long a large tree grew up through the driver’s seat area. The car was auctioned off and the buyer had to cut off the tree and lift the remains off the stump.

Please check out the website for the Speedway. Their press release says the event was cancelled due to “present and anticipated restrictions....posed by Covid-19.”

The Spring AutoFair has been cancelled; while the Speedway is the site of a mass vaccination clinic. The SE Region car show has been moved to a nearby hotel and apparently will happen. I think this makes 3 AutoFairs in a row have fallen victim to Covid-19. Let’s pray the current downward trend in cases; and the upward trend in vaccinations intersect long before Hershey.

Sold for $36,500. In true BAT style, it climbed from $22k to $36.5k in the final hour. And no sniping like evil bay. The seller got a good price and nobody feels like they got screwed at the end. This could soon be the best way to sell nice antique cars, and trucks.

There is a humorous story involving William McKinley, our first President who rode in a car; and the City of Frederick, MD- some 50 miles north of the White House. Those who are familiar with Frederick might know it has the so-called “square corner”. It is the intersection of Patrick Street and Market Street. In those days a police officer was stationed on an elevated stand in the center of the intersection. His job was to direct the flow of traffic, the majority of which was horse drawn conveyances. On the particular day that McKinley’s Presidential car was approaching the square corner from the south on Market Street; the police officer on duty was a cantankerous veteran who took his job very serious. As history is recorded, he spotted McKinley’s entourage from a distance; and as the President reached the intersection- he stopped the President and allowed the horse drawn traffic to proceed instead. Allegedly, McKinley was enraged, but the police officer was unimpressed. Fast forward to modern times; and Presidents routinely pass through Frederick County, MD to reach Camp David, a presidential retreat in the mountains near Thurmont. Imagine a group of large black SUV’s, accompanied by police vehicles of various types, blasting up Route 15- and certainly not stopping for anything or anybody.

BAT. The business phenomenon of the decade. When my older brother starting telling me about it, they were selling failed project cars that needed a trailer to be transported. Later my millennial son started sending me links to high dollar, low mileage European cars selling for outrageous prices. More recently, American classics and beautiful antique cars of all kinds have found new homes there. If I was the owner of a brick and mortar automobile auction company, I’d be looking in the rear view mirror. Of course, having the country sequestered at home with their laptops hasn’t hurt their business. This week they added an easy shipping service. It’s like watching eBay bloom in its first few years. Hopefully it doesn’t fall in the same rat hole as eBay.

Try Jim Carter Truck Parts in Independence , M0. On line, or 1-800-862-1913. Good luck!

Any ideas? Thanks!

If that doesn’t work, try eBay. Or just wait for Spring Carlisle April 21-25. There is a vendor just inside gate 3 that has lug nuts galore!

Gangster- Congratulations, based upon the price and the location- I booked the same place a few weeks ago. Corporate must have suffered a brain cramp because the last few years they had a significantly higher rate. Perhaps they are dealing with Covid collapse and think this lower rate will bring folks back. You can’t argue with the results. I have been staying at the BW Premier on Union Deposit Rd, a beautiful place and easily accessed from our Green field spots- but they jacked their rates this year and I am gone. One thing to consider: Your hotel has one side that faces a major Highway, and one side that faces the “mountains”. If you are on the road side, the noise at night is substantial. Do yourself a favor, a few weeks before the event/ call the hotel and request the “Mountain side”. They will know what you mean. See you there in October!