JamesR Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 (edited) Well, it was his parents' car, but he bought it new for them. The thing is, from what I've read he didn't start making money 'til Bonanza, and that didn't start til '59, and this is a '57, so I don't know how legit the provenance is. If it's genuine it doesn't seem like a bad price for a celebrity owned car. Also some '57 cars of various makes had quad headlights while others of the same make didn't. Might've varied from state to state per regulations. Could be it was a left over '57 sold late in the '59 model year. When I first became interested in unappreciated Mercury's, I found the '57 and '58 models kind of vulgar looking, but now I think they're cool beyond cool. Very late fifties outrageous, and who doesn't like that? Mostly original color and paint, the ad say. Hope you aren't getting tired of my odd eBay posts. I'm hoping they generate interest and conversation and help bring people to the cars-for-sale section, but I'm also genuinely thinking that they may find a potential buyer here. 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser 4 Door Sedan | eBay Edited January 10, 2020 by JamesR (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 All it makes me think is my dad loved that show and especially enjoyed Hoss. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 1 minute ago, mike6024 said: All it makes me think is my dad loved that show and especially enjoyed Hoss. I did a little reading up on Dan Blocker after seeing this ad last night, and it sounds like he was a genuinely decent guy, though just kind of a big kid in some ways, too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 He had a bunch of fake early brass stuff.......hot rodded and non authentic. I have come across some of it. Take anything with his name with a grain of salt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 Good to know, Ed. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 My Dad met Dan Blocker when Dan came to the Chrysler executive car lot to pick up a car. Dad said he was really a nice guy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaddds Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 The seller or Hoss? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lebowski Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 He liked minibikes too.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 (edited) I watched a really strange movie yesterday called Suburbacon or something like that. Matt Damon was in it. A two year old movie based in around 1957. One of the cars was a two door station wagon similar to this Merc. I would love to own that two door wagon. https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1175789-Mercury-Voyager-1957.html The movie itself sucked. Edited January 10, 2020 by JACK M (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 Dan Blocker was a car enthusiast through and through. He owned a new 1965 Chevelle 396. That is a beautiful 57 Merc. up for sale. JACK M, if I am not mistaken, that Mercury wagon was for sale last year in Hemmings, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted January 11, 2020 Author Share Posted January 11, 2020 (edited) 7 hours ago, mike6024 said: Both actress and car are beautiful. We were discussing the Mercury Commuter-Voyager two door wagon of this era on another forum, and we decided that it may have been the only true two door hardtop station wagon ever made in America. The Ranch Wagons, Parklanes, and Del Rios - or any other Ford I'm aware of - don't qualify. (More of a "sedan" configuration.) The tri-five Safaris and Nomads also don't qualify (again, because of the B pillar.) The beautiful Buick Caballero was available only in four door, I think. If you're aware of any others that might qualify, however, please post them. Edited January 11, 2020 by JamesR (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Hoss was in several old westerns before Bonanza, had a big handlebar mustache and was usually the bad guy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Beer Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 (edited) I am thinking Dodge had a 2 door hardtop wagon in 62-63? Edited January 12, 2020 by Brooklyn Beer (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 5 hours ago, Brooklyn Beer said: I am thinking Dodge had a 2 door hardtop wagon in 62-63? Awesome! Another true two door hardtop wagon. I thought Mercury ruled the roost in that respect, but I guess not. I don't suppose you know the name of that model, Brooklyn Beer? Anyone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHuDWah Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 On 1/9/2020 at 4:46 PM, JamesR said: I did a little reading up on Dan Blocker after seeing this ad last night, and it sounds like he was a genuinely decent guy, though just kind of a big kid in some ways, too. Interesting guy - had a master's degree, was a Korea veteran, and started Bonanza and Ponderosa steak houses. Dunno if the story is true, but I read that the Bonanza crew had a beat-up old fridge where they kept soda and snacks. Blocker routinely helped himself until he found out the crew, not the producers, were paying for the goodies and no one had the courage to tell the star to chip in. The next morning, a brand new top-of-the-line refrigerator had appeared and Blocker kept it stocked thereafter. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Beer Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 It could be a valiant in 63. Maybe a 330 wagon ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MochetVelo Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 The popular and kind-hearted Blocker didn't start the Ponderosa/ Bonanze steak houses, but was a spokesman for them. Read his bio here. Here is an extract: Blocker, a performance automobile fan, once owned a 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 "Z-16" (RPO Z16 option), as Chevrolet was the commercial sponsor of the show. He also owned a 1965 Huffaker Genie MK10 race car, nicknamed the "Vinegaroon". The car was run by Nickey Chevrolet in the 1965 and 1966 U.S. Road Racing Championship series, as well as the 1966 Can-Am championship. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHuDWah Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) 59 minutes ago, MochetVelo said: The popular and kind-hearted Blocker didn't start the Ponderosa/ Bonanze steak houses, but was a spokesman for them. Read his bio here. Here is an extract: Blocker, a performance automobile fan, once owned a 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 "Z-16" (RPO Z16 option), as Chevrolet was the commercial sponsor of the show. He also owned a 1965 Huffaker Genie MK10 race car, nicknamed the "Vinegaroon". The car was run by Nickey Chevrolet in the 1965 and 1966 U.S. Road Racing Championship series, as well as the 1966 Can-Am championship. Phil Another excerpt from that link: Quote Also in 1963, Blocker started and received partial ownership in a successful chain of Bonanza Steakhouse restaurants (Ponderosa Steakhouses started in 1965),[1] in exchange for serving (in character as Hoss) as their commercial spokesman and making personal appearances at franchises. And from another Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponderosa_and_Bonanza_Steakhouses) Quote In 1963, Dan Blocker, who played Eric "Hoss" Cartwright on Bonanza,[3] started the Bonanza Steakhouse chain. His IMDb bio says the same so I dunno. Edited January 14, 2020 by CHuDWah (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MochetVelo Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 You're right, CHudwah. It's interesting that Bonanza and Ponderosa Steakhouses were separate companies, but eventually merged. I wonder if NBC got anything out of it? Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) According to this article, there are only eight Bonanza steakhouses left in the US. I'm not sure if that includes the one referenced in the article that was demolished in MS exactly one year ago. I presume it doesn't. They are owned by a larger company, so hopefully they can stay in business. They were everywhere when I was a kid, now my state doesn't have one. There's one in Iowa and one in Minnesota, and that's as close as they get. See one of the last Bonanza Steakhouses demolished after standing for 45 years Edited January 15, 2020 by JamesR (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) On 1/12/2020 at 9:05 AM, Brooklyn Beer said: I am thinking Dodge had a 2 door hardtop wagon in 62-63? It turns out this is not the case. This page explains that this car was not originally a two door wagon, and that Dodge made no two door wagons at this time. A 1962 Dodge Station Wagon Ramchargers Tribute is the February 2011 Mopar of the Month The '57 Mercury Commuter and related vehicles may have been the only two door hardtop wagon. Edited February 16, 2020 by JamesR (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry with a Packard Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 Dan Blocker lived on Halstead Street, Northridge in the San Fernando Valley in the mid 60's. I remember he had a '67 Camaro in the driveway. Chrome decoration mimicking thru the hood carburetors. Don't recall the engine, though it would have been large. Yes, he was a nice guy. There is the Dan Blocker beach along Pacific Coast Highway not far south of Zuma Beach, Malibu area. I always thought it odd that he had a beach named after him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 This beach was originally donated to the State of California by Lorne Greene and Michael Landon of the TV series Bonanza in memory of Dan Blocker. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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