Marty Roth

Thank you, Dave, A friend reminded me that I “only” paid $500 or maybe $600 at 125 or $150 Each for the four of them, but that was 1978 or 1979. Of course that still doesn’t give me a value today, and of course I want to be flexible so that they can be enjoyed by a Franklin owner, driver, or at least someone who appreciates them.

Hello Steve - good to hear from you ! Yes, these are possibly an old reproduction, I bought them at Hershey around 1978 or 1979, as I recall. In any case, the quality and detail seem quite good, with many original features. It seems they would be a nice, and useful addition to Franklin cars of the era. We expect to be in Tucson again later next year on tour, and hope to once again visit the Franklin museum there. A couple of folks have sent me a PM, describing essentially identical plates on early cars, but without the embossed name of a vehicle in the center rectangle. I can bring them to the Glidden in Georgia, to Hershey, or could leave then with friends in the area for someone who might be interested. Thank you for your response.

Probably not rags - My guess is that there was a car cover over the entire car, but it was folded back partially to open the hood for the picture. I have seen one of mine look like that when only partially uncovered.

Wow !! Two exceptional charities, and among my favorites. Our annual (and some more frequent) donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital started long before we had a personal connection, and they have since saved the life of my sister's infant granddaughter.

I recently was reminded of this from my CPA

Have you tried airing them up? You just might be surprised, as it is possible that they may still pump up and hold air - at least for a while

Yes, and I found some good ones on Amazon, as low as two (2) for $25 with free delivery which are now in the side-mount spares of my Roadmaster

@MercMontMars If you are only using the tires to roll the car around in your work area, then decent tubes in your current tires would be fine - you're not driving it around town and cross-country, are you?

Absolutely Agree ! Even though I'm in Louisiana, for many, many years we travelled to the DC, PA, NY, NJ, Mid-West and Northeast, supporting the hobby, and as a national AACA Board member. When I drove from Richmond, VA to my Dad's funeral in NYC, I had to stop multiple times to pay tolls, and each toll was as much as a half hour delay. I made the same trip with my sister's EZ Pass Transponder the next week and zipped through the toll bypass each time, not having to deal with traffic and cash and exact change. On our next trip Nawth, I stopped at the very first EZ Pass location, which happened to be in Maryland, and have maintained that account for over 22 years now. I think Pennsylvania charges "Out-Of-State" EZ-Pass users a higher amount for each toll, compared to those whose EZ-Pass account is based in Pennsylvania. This may also be true of other states, as well. My Maryland EZ-Pass charges me $1.50 for every month in which I do not pay a toll IN MARYLAND - and that is probably 99% of the time, --- but paying $18 each year for not having to stop at every toll booth - or get a bill in the mail from an unmanned toll - is well spent, as far as I'm concerned ! Maybe I should look into another state, because virtually all of my tolls are in Pennsylvania - Just wondering what they charge to set up their account?

This convertible top PARADE hard boot cover has never been unwrapped or opened, and was only removed from the plastic sleeve to get these photos. Even the original instructions for installation and removal are still on the boot. This was delivered with our 2005 Chrysler Sebring Touring Convertible, likely fits several other years as well , supposedly 2001-2006 if literature is correct While soft versions list for $250 on Ebay, The Hard Parade Boot Cover - even USED go for $400 on Ebay. This one is Brand New - Never Installed! I think it should be worth at least $300 to a good home, and will consider your thoughts. I could bring it to the Glidden Tour in Georgia, or to Hershey, or possibly leave it with other friends up that way. I also have the holder for the Front License Plate - still in its sealed wrapper

This convertible top PARADE hard boot cover has never been unwrapped or opened, and was only removed from the plastic sleeve to get these photos. Even the original instructions for installation and removal are still on the boot. This was delivered with our 2005 Chrysler Sebring Touring Convertible, likely fits several other years as well , supposedly 2001-2006 if literature is correct While soft versions list for $250 on Ebay, The Hard Parade Boot Cover - even USED go for $400 on Ebay. This one is Brand New - Never Installed! I think it should be worth at least $300 to a good home, and will consider your thoughts. I could bring it to the Glidden Tour in Georgia, or to Hershey, or possibly leave it with other friends up that way. I also have the holder for the Front License Plate - still in its sealed wrapper

I bought this pair of heavy Step Plates around 1979, thinking I would mount them on my 1927 Roadster, the kind mounted on a running board at each of the doors. These are quite heavy Cast Aluminum, and seem better than the new reproductions seen online. They have never been mounted, and have the CHEVROLET name inside the embossed Bow Tie, surrounded by a polished embossed diamond design. I plan to bring these, as well as my four (4) FRANKLIN step plates to my Hershey Spaces Chocolate Field Lamp Post 58 - Spaces CG 32, 33, 34 l could also bring these to the Glidden Tour in Georgia Are these worth $100 for the pair, delivered to Hershey ? I would also listen to your reasonable offer, and appreciate your thoughts.

I bought this pair of heavy Step Plates around 1979, thinking I would mount them on my 1927 Roadster, the kind mounted on a running board at each of the doors. These are quite heavy Cast Aluminum, and seem better than the new reproductions seen online. They have never been mounted, each is ten (10") inches in width, have what appears to be a "Mud Scraper" at the exterior edge, have side to side embossed ridges, and have the CHEVROLET name inside the embossed Bow Tie, surrounded by a polished embossed diamond design. I plan to bring these, as well as my four (4) FRANKLIN step plates to my Hershey Spaces Chocolate Field Lamp Post 58 - Spaces CG 32, 33, 34 Are these worth $100 for the pair, delivered to Hershey ? I would also listen to your reasonable offer, and appreciate your thoughts.

I would appreciate advice from those, more knowledgeable than myself. More than four decades ago, then owning a 1917 Franklin 9A Touring, I bought a set of Four (4) heavy Step Plates, the kind mounted on a running board at each of the doors. These are quite heavy - probably Cast Aluminum, they have never been mounted, each is ten (10") inches in width, have what appears to be a "Mud Scraper" at the exterior edge, have side to side embossed ridges, and have the FRANKLIN brand name embossed. I plan to bring these, as well as a pair for Chevrolet to my Hershey Spaces Chocolate Field Lamp Post 58 - Spaces CG 32, 33, 34 or could bring them to the Glidden Tour in Georgia in October Having no idea of the desirability or more to the point - the value of these Step Plates, I would appreciate your thoughts.

I would appreciate advice from those, more knowledgeable than myself. More than four decades ago, then owning a 1917 Franklin 9A Touring, I bought a set of Four (4) heavy Step Plates, the kind mounted on a running board at each of the doors. These are quite heavy - probably Cast Aluminum, they have never been mounted, each is ten (10") inches in width, have what appears to be a "Mud Scraper" at the exterior edge, have side to side embossed ridges, and have the FRANKLIN brand name embossed. I plan to bring these, as well as a pair for Chevrolet to my Hershey Spaces Chocolate Field Lamp Post 58 - Spaces CG 32, 33, 34 or could bring them to the Glidden Tour in Georgia in October Having no idea of the desirability or more to the point - the value of these Step Plates, I would appreciate your thoughts.

I would appreciate advice from those, more knowledgeable than myself. More than four decades ago, then owning a 1917 Franklin 9A Touring, I bought a set of Four (4) heavy Step Plates, the kind mounted on a running board at each of the doors. These are quite heavy - probably Cast Aluminum, they have never been mounted, each is ten (10") inches in width, have what appears to be a "Mud Scraper" at the exterior edge, have side to side embossed ridges, and have the FRANKLIN brand name embossed. I plan to bring these, as well as a pair for Chevrolet to my Hershey Spaces Chocolate Field Lamp Post 58 - Spaces CG 32, 33, 34 or could bring them to the Glidden Tour in Georgia in October Having no idea of the desirability or more to the point - the value of these Step Plates, I would appreciate your thoughts.

Agreed ! My understanding is, that Despite the several "Unique" styling of Edsel, The smaller series Ranger and Pacer were based loosely on Ford, while the upper series Citation and Corsair were based on Mercury- Some opine that the for Edsel models were created to fill a gap which didn't need to be filled - but rather to have more versions to compete with the other two of the "Big Three" The public reacted accordingly ... along with multiple disparaging descriptions related to styling choices. Probably the least offensive compared the 1958 Edsel to a Mercury sucking a Lemon- others are not appropriate to note here.

From 2000 until 2002 I had hoped the 2500 Suburban would eventually be available with the Dura-Max Diesel and the Allison transmission, as suggested by former GM Engines and AACA National President Joe Vicini. In October, 2001 Joe called me and let me know the floor pan of the Suburban would not be revised to accept that driveline, and to just go ahead with the 8.1L gas engine. It is a fine unit, now with nearly 200,000 miles and no needed repairs (Same configuration in our 2005 2500 Avalanche), but neither have the towing ease of our 400,xxx mile 2000 Excursion 7.3L Diesel.

Maybe a previous owner or repair shop reversed the rear springs (front to rear) when reinstalling, or even substituted different springs with a different location for the axle U-Bolts?

And carry a Roster for clubs of which you are a member. This has helped me on a couple of occasions. During our 3-month 10,xxx mile drive in our 1954 Cadillac convertible a few years back, a parts counter gent at the AutoZone in Fort Stockton(?), TX insisted on swapping out the alternator for me, and when a slight miss developed by the time I reached the Pacific Northwest, Mark Shaw, Joe Block, and I swapped out the offending distributor cap, also changing spark plugs and wires in the process. Local shops in The Dalles and Denver were helpful when my aftermarket chrome wire spoke wheels had broken spokes and started coming apart.

It might help to know what they are driving, also maybe contact the "FAST" supplier for assistance, replacement parts, warranty local support shop, overnight help??? I could always adjust carb, points, timing, patch - or reroute a hose or vacuum line, etc on the side of the road if needed- but replacing duplicate electronic aftermarket items, maybe too expensive or cumbersome to carry as a spare, and some possibly no longer available could be less desirable, at least for me. Wishing the best outcome for your parents - we've also driven Route 66, as well as several other "vintage" events, including Trans-Canada, Jefferson Highway, Times Square to San Francisco, New Orleans to Chicago, Maine to Key West, all in vintage cars, and appreciate "Seeing America Slowly".

OK, so the follow up - continued involvement, either with the Fury, or with the red-head?

Thanks @Ed Luddy, Yes I understand, and actually have driven a 1960 Meteor- I'm just suggesting that the Meteor, rather than being based on the US version of a Mercury, appears more a face-lifted Ford - still a neat car, and one I'd be proud to drive. Sorry you weren't able to visit while we drove the Founders Tour (also our 2nd London-to-Brighton) in July.

I had excellent results on our '41 Caddy with a company called Gas Tank Re-Nu

We are supposed to "ASSUME" that $50 worth of R-12 would solve everything, BUT ....... There is a reason the Freon leaked in the first place, and likely it would have been very expensive to properly repair, even back the when correct parts, such as the Evaporator core might have been readily available - and of course that means disassembling the dash and breaking little brittle plastic things along the way. I like the idea of it, but everything in our stable is, and likely will remain Open Cars. I believe the gauge in the console is engine vacuum - sometimes proffered as helping economy- as in "Keep your foot out of the Loud Pedal"- Yeah, Sure, with the 400 block, 4 barrel, 4-speed- and by that year the compression was reduced, smog controls resulted in poor driveability, fuel mileage took a dump, and the new models resulted in a diminished joy of driving!