61polara

I'd suggest that you join an AACA, Chrysler or DeSoto region in your area for support. These are wonderful driving cars and with the M-5 and M-6 transmissions they will run for ever.

You should post in the Lincoln V12 section below.

If you have a front license plate bracket and live in a state that does not use a front license plate, many of us buy a plate blank and mount it in the center of that plate.

Ford introduced the hydraulic wipers on the Lincoln in 1961. Thunderbird may have received them at the same time, I'm not sure. They are wonderful wipers with infinite speed control. If they are adjusted right, they will even park for a short time at the end of each sweep. Chrysler offered variable speed electric wipers for many years as an option. My '61 Dodge and '70 Challenger both have them.

For AACA judging purposes, it must be a 900-15, unless you have a letter from the VP of Class Judging that the L78 is acceptable. Your letter to the VP of Judging should specify the tire you want to use and why that tire is the best substitute for the original 900-15 dual stripe tire. Since you still can't find the exact white wall style, I think one of the 900-15 tires that are available would be a better choice than the L78. Note that an 8.20-15 tire is actually two sizes smaller than the 900-15 tire required on your Cadillac.

Very interesting. Cadillac and Buick were vacuum only in 1958. My 1951 Studebaker Land Cruiser has factory electric wipers.

Chrysler first offered electric wipers around 1940, while GM stuck to vacuum wipers until 1959. Ford first offered them around 1961 on some models.

From the Judges Guidelines: Owners not able to find a correct replacement tire should send a letter to the VP Judging indicating the specific size of the correct tire and that at least two tire manufacturers have been contacted and the correct tire is not available. Tires one size larger or smaller are acceptable. A letter from the VP Judging is the ONLY AACA ACCEPTED documentation regarding a vehicles' substitute tires. Any letter issued by the VP Judging should be shown to the Team Captain at the time of vehicle judging.

Your spare tire appears to be an original dual stripe (one thin, one wide) white wall. These were used on Cadillac for 1967-1968. The triple stripe white wall offered by Coker is correct for the 1965-1966 Cadillac. As the correct replacement tire is not available, you can write the VP of Class Judging, to request an exception to use the tire you select. If approved, that letter is your documentation that the tire is acceptable. The process (and documents to be submitted) is outlined in the Judges Guidelines under tires.

The Chief Judge, VP of Class Judging and others review the car list for possible misclassifications prior to the show and contact the owner if there are questions. The car was reviewed to determine that it is AACA eligible and the proper class for the car. Most likely, the application for Class 35 was not received in time for the review by the committee to be completed to be included in Class 35 for the Hershey National. If this is the case, Class 27 is correct until the car is accepted in Class 35. If it is accepted, the award will be moved and the car will be in Class 35 going forward.

This vehicle may very well fit into Class 35, but entry into Class 35 requires the owner to submit an application with documentation to National to be reviewed by the Specified Class Committee and then approved by the VP of Judging. Once approved, it would be moved into Class 35. This request is initiated by the owner. Class 27Q is the correct class until the application is submitted and approved. I have no idea if this has been done by the owner, but that is why it was shown in Class 27Q. This process is outlined in the Judging Guidelines in the description of Class 35.

Ted, is your DPC grill badge visible? The DPC team will not give a Repeat award to a DPC car not displaying the DPC badge.

That appears to be a '46-'49 Cadillac shift knob. Most exposed shift tubes were mounted on top of the shifter column so I think yours for shifting on the right side of the steering wheel.

Your key would be a chrome plated brass key. Buick used a single key system at least through 1960.

I'd be glad to complete your survey, but it requires logging into a Google account which I don't have. Are you a paid member of AACA or have family members who are members of AACA? We offer great student discount memberships. If so, show your membership number in your signature line and I'll be glad to answer your survey.

My prayers to his family. This is so hard to understand.... Chris was a wonderful person, who I met soon after he joined the AACA Library. Chris brought so many ideas and advancements to the Library and Research Center during his years there. Friend, you will be missed greatly.

In AACA judging, there is no deduction for seat belts as they are considered a safety item.

Why don't you call the Hershey Region or National?

I had that problem on my '50 Chrysler. There is an oilite bushing at the top of the shift rod, where the gear shifter joins the shift rod. That bushing had dried out. Spray it with a penetrating oil and start moving the gear shift leaver forward and backwards in the neutral position. It will soon free up.

So would I, as well as actual controlled tests showing that bias ply tires are unsafe. No more discussion on this.

There would not be a deduction in AACA judging as long as both wheels were offered by Dodge in that year.

I think NTX5467 summed it up very well.

This annual NC Region show has been a favorite of mine for years. It's a great venue and a place to visit with friends from all over the state.

Duct tape on the rim of a hub cap was usually done to prevent a hubcap from coming off on the road. This usually happens when radial tires are mounted on rims designed for bias ply tires. The additional flexing of the radial tire would cause additional flex in the rim and the hubcap would rotate of fly off. New rims or bias ply tires will fix this or stick with the duct tape or silicone to keep the hubcaps on.

Please start a new thread if you want answers