Povertycove

I'd still be interested in anyone can find a car that lasted more than the Ford Windstar. As I understand it, the dealer empties the crankcase and then adds some kind of acid. Is there a set protocol for killing clunkers?

What's the record for a car surviving the autocide in the cash-for-clunkers program? The manager of a large Ford dealership here in Bangor, Maine, told me that an ancient Ford Windstar lasted 22 minutes. An old Dodge 225 slant six went 17 minutes, threw a rod through the block, and incredibly chugged on for a minute and a half before fully dying! Any other records? BTW -- having wandered through the fields of hundreds of clunkers, we should be glad these beasts are off the road. The general level of decay of clunkers here in salty Maine is hard to describe. Duct tape is not enough.

Amazing -- I'll have to research Talbots. The little girl on the front seat -- my aunt -- became the internationally famous American fashion designer Vera Maxwell, who died in 1996 at age 95. Thanks for your help.

Could anyone identify this car? My grandmother and aunts were visiting family in Germany in 1912.

I have four very good and straight rims for a 1930 sedan. They don't fit my 1929 DA -- I bought them in error. Would like to trade for some good, straight demountable rims, or will sell.

Mike -- any Aiflow stuff?

I used R.I Wiring when I rewired my C-17. Terrific company, with excellent instructions. (I've also used their harnesses for a '52 Lincoln and a '29 Dodge) I kept my 6-volt intact, for the sake of originality. No problems with using six volt so far, though I only drive the car spring through autumn.

I am looking to puchase a 1926 Lincoln Sport Touring Car, Brunn body, 3spd trans., 357.8 cu. in. V8 Body type: 124 #2-3837. It seems like a nice, properly kept car, with good originality, doors that open and close as new and with useable cosmetics, though the paint has the usual cracks, and some flaking. The interior is original, as is the running gear. The top is a tan, vinyl fabric. Anyway, since this would be the oldest car in my collection, and a sizeable invstment, I wondered if any knowledgable Lincoln owner had some thoughts about what to look out for, and $ value ranges.

If you ever wondered how some dealers mark-up their inventory, check out the recent Owls Head auction results (at ohtm.org)with the prices now at http://connorsmotorcar.com/class.html. Examples:a nice 426 Packard, purchased at the auction for $52,000 (well within the predicted sale of $45-$55,000) several days later is listed with Connors at just shy of $90,000. An average '59 Lincoln (the car that nearly killed Lincoln)convertible, bought for $26,000 listed days later for about $70,000. The cheap stuff? A '62 Lark sold at auction (and remember, there are NO purchaser premiums added at Owls Head -- the auction price is the price) for $4,750, now listed at Connors for about $12,000. This is no big deal --if you're the kind of buyer who doesn't care much about price, or couldn't be botherd to do a little online research. A dealer is entitled to profit for risks taken. Still, compare the "new" items at Connors (I have no idea who the dealer is)with what they were purchased for -- interesting comparisons.

WTB for a 1929 DA sedan, a couple of 19-inch four lug-slots demountable rims in very good to excellent condition. Alex (207) 326-0587

The running boards seem very vulnerable in Airflows -- you may have to make them. Rubber used to be available from Steele, but was thick and very hard to apply to original boards. As you may know, stainless strips lay inside each indentation in the rubber -- a tricky application, but essential to get the correct look for the C-17s.

The Airflow Club has a great deal of info on these Airflow tankers. The Oct. 2001 issue of the Newsletter reprints a Hemmings Special Interest Autos article, crediting Texaco for coming up with the idea in 1931. The first Airflow truck came out of the Dodge plant in in Dec., 1934. A number of these are still in around, and have been restored by club members.

That's good to know -- I have the address for Chrysler historical records, and I'll write them for the build sheet. I don't have a photo of my oil filter, but it seems original -- no decal on it, though. I'll take some photos when I start getting the cars out of the barns in spring.

Did Dodge maintain copies of their build sheets, the way Chrysler did? If yes, to whom can you write to get a copy? I have build sheets for my Airflows, etc., but I picked up a very nice original '29 DA late last year, and I only know its history back to about 1970.

I have a 4-barrel Holley, with new rebuild kit, perfect intake manifold and air cleaner for a 53-55 Lincoln V-8. It will also work for the '52 and later models, I believe. I'll be putting it up on Ebat later, but thought some club members might be interested. 29 Dodge 37 Airflow 49 Dodge Roadster 52 Lincoln Capri etc.

Thanks for the response. I'll try that procedure this morning.

Contact the Airflow club. These windshields are very hard to find. They rust out in the lower corners. The fellow who used to have the greatest supply of good old parts is Chuck Cochran. Latest directory lists his email as ccochran1@sbcglobal.net. Fax in Indiana is (317) 854-6625

I am trying to take the demountable rims and tires off a wooden artillery-style wheel, but with no luck. I found a rim-puller in the floor of the '29 Dodge DA, but I can't seem to make any progress. I haven't found anything on the internet that really helps. There must be some kind of procedure. Any help? '29 Dodge DA '37 Chrysler Airflow '49 Dodge Wayfarer Roadster '52 Lincoln Capri '53 MG TD/II '54 VW '66 MB 230 sl etc.

Yes -- I live just across the bay, and went over to take a look at it. I was impressed by the solidity of the car, as well as the quiet and smoothness of the engine. I realized, though, that I would have to put a great deal of money into the paint and interior to bring it to the condition it deserves. I bid about $10,000 less than I knew it would likely go for, the seller's reserve. At 20 feet, you see the issues. I like to get up to five feet or so. Good car, and a worthy project. Seller seems quite honest. Best of luck! '37 Chrysler Airflow '49 Dodge Wayfarer Roadster '52 Lincoln Capri '53 MG TD, M-2 '66 M-B 230 SL

The blue one? From Rockland, Maine? If so, your first job might not be to change the carburation, but to work on the paint, and to get rid of the crown royal whiskey emblem glued to the nose. Again, if this is the car, it seems to run very nicely -- easy to start and sounds very good. It's a solid car. The real issues are only cosmetic. The royals show up -- but the imperials --wow.

I have a medallion, and over-riders for a '36, as well as a complete and very good front bumper and some tail-lights shells. The medallion is somewhat octagonal, and was triple-rechomed to show quality.

About price. The figure you mention seems high, but without seeing it, who knows? That said, I have almost twice that much in mine, and I know club members who have three times that in theirs. The most recent Airflow newsletter has a two-tone maroon Desoto for $18,500.

The car is essentially a very dark blue (like the Porsche 911 midnight blue) and the fenders black, so there's almost no contrast between the two. You only see the two-tone in certain light. Very effective in person, but photos don't show its effect very well.