interesting paper?

[rocketraider]

I'm sure most of you collect automotive literature as well as cars. What are some of the neat and interesting pieces y'all have?

I recently got a set of 1951-1964 HydraMatic parts requisition sheets with exploded drawings of these transmissions and every part # required to service them. It also includes the 2-speed 1964 version of Jetaway.

Also got a 1966-76 Oldsmobile "Styled Wheel Discs" binder with photos and application for each wheel treatment Olds offered those years. Never knew such a thing existed so it was a given that I would have it.

Whatch'all got? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[29 Chandler]

How about a brouchure sent to Ford dealers by Ford to educate salesman how to sell the new Mustang (1964) to import sports car owners. It has charts that compare the attributes of each car to the Mustang. Something I found at a swapmeet several years ago, but have never seen or heard of another.

Or

1923 Cleveland pre-release dealer promotional photos for the 1923 Cleveland line. An envelope full of 30 assorted photos the dealer could order.

[Restorer32]

1932 Packard 900 Coupe Sedan pre-production press release photo (artists rendering) which differs in several respects from the actual car as built.

[Guest]

1941 Cadillac Salesman's Data Book which gives all kinds of comparison data between Cadillac, Packard and Lincoln for that year. It lets the salesman pitch the Cadillac using hard data. Of course it is slanted in Cadillac's favor, but then in 1941 Cadillac probably was a better car overall than Packard or Lincoln.

Also I have a copy of the factory brochure listing allowable modifications to all models of the '41 Cadillac and prices for each modification. For a reasonable price the factory would change cushion thickness and seat angles as well as other never thought of things like painting the dashboard body color, or changing steering wheel or parking brake handle color.

In '41 Cadillac would factory paint a car ANY Cadillac color from prior years at no extra cost, and they would paint a car ANY non Cadillac color for a fee. They recommended against "soft" colors and pastells. Try getting that on your Escalade today. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I also have a copy of a factory brochure listing ALL factory accessories for the 1942 Chevrolet.

hvs

[R W Burgess]

29 Chandler, Interesting stuff. I'm wondering about the explanation of how a Mustang would out handle a sports car on a turn, considering it had that hitech Falcon chassis. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> And Howard, I wish we could get factory options like that '41 Caddy. I ordered my 2000 Chevy and tried my best to get them to paint the bottom shade a color they already used on solid painted vehicles. No dice, Seems this computer generation can't do half the things us older folks used to accomplish easily. Wayne

[Ron Green]

Pontiac 1955 model year (three issues- fall-1, spring-2, summer-3) called the Pontiac Dealer Confidential Accessory Price List. Has the 65 accessories & options, group #'s, part #'s available this year as the amount grows to more from fall to summer as they were added. Has suggested selling price and dealer price. Have the same for 1956 as some of the 55 accessories are listed as factory available and correct in the early 56 issues.

Also have the monthly (12 total) 1955 Pontiac Craftsmen's Newsletters. Lists all running changes for the 55 model year. They have a test at the end of each issue that the dealer mechanic would have to take. I would like to see this be mandatory for todays mechanics / parts replacers.

[Guest Skyking]

I'll have to speak for my father who doesn't own a computer. He has every year of registration certificates for his 1931 Model A Deluxe Roadster since it was new. At turning 90 years young this April, he doesn't drive it too much any more.

[1937hd45]

I don't think too many original 1925 INDY 500 entry recipts with the original envelope exist. Back then it cost $100.00 to enter a car, this fee was refunded once the car qualified for the 500. Back in the 1970's I sent the driver, Ira Vail an 8x10 of him in the car taken at Indy, he returned it with his autograph.

[R W Burgess]

Gotta see your stuff Bob. Ain't no way your house can hold all those antiquities! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Wayne

[Guest]

About 15 years ago I was shown a box of pre WW II automotive publications and was allowed to pick a few items for myself. I selected 3 German Motorsport magazines full of great pictures. Unfortunately for me, they are of course, in German.

The most interesting item was a postcard that fell out of one of them. It appears to be some form of application for tickets to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

hvs

[Dave@Moon]

I find most of my interesting paper on eBay. Last year I came across a couple of these reports on auction. They're confidential "Stock Engine Tests" of Buick engines for 1960. (I'll try to attach an image later.) These reports were prepared by the GM Engineering Staff Automotive Engine Test Code Sub-Committee, and were dated 10/20/60--which would've been about a month after the (somewhat different) 1961 model engines had been out.

I bid high for the one that covered my rather rare low compression "export" engine, and bid more nominal amounts for the other (as I recall) three reports. I only won the report for my car.

This report is 36 pages of technical data and charts covering any imaginable specification applicable to the operation of a car engine. The report was obviously reproduced from a typewritten master, and is hand signed by the three authors. Most interestingly, the report has never been opened (the stapled, pale blue cardboard cover has no crease where it opens); and it is marked "FILE" in red pencil on the cover.

Has anybody ever come across any of these for other cars? In 25+ years in the hobby these are the only copies of this kind of information I've ever come across myself.

[Guest stude8]

I acquired a copy of a very unusual photo of the Studebaker "Sobonite Special car #53" which raced at Indianapolis in 1937 and other years. The riding mechanic John Peck went around the pits in May, 1937 and obtained autographs of at least 43 racing personalities on this remarkable 8x10 print. Among the names are Harry A. Miller, Bud Winfield, Lou Moore, Mauri Rose and the list goes on.

You can see the photo at http://www.aaca.org/photopost/showphoto....amp;thecat=500. Stude8

[George Rohrbach]

Is the Sobonite Special the one that had the Commander Engine in it?

[Guest stude8]

The "Sobonite Special" was actually the original 1932 car #22 and over the years of various owners was bought back by Studebaker in the 1950's. It was restored in 1962 by Luther Johnson at the South Bend proving grounds to be used in the 1963 Indy 500 festivities where the new Avanti was to be the honorary pace car. We all know that fizzeled and the Lark did the paceing. But Sherwood Egbert the CEO said he wanted it capable of coming down the grand stand straight at 120MPH like it did in 1932.

I don't think they pushed it that fast but it did make a showing driven by Cliff Bergere who had driven it in 1932. Today it remains in its 1932 Parma Wine Red #22 finish and sits off display in the basement of the Indy 500 Museum in Indianapolis.

By the way, the name "Sobonite" rhymes with "Masonite" and was a wood product made in South Bend at the time by the company who sponsored the car in 1937.

The body used in 1937 was the original 1932 body that was displaced from the chassis in 1933 when it bore the #6 aerodynamic wind tunnel body.

The engine used in 1932 and again in 1937 was a model 92 President "P" series 9 main bearing L head 8 cylinder 337 cubic inch block. Sorry the only photo I have of the engine is 220K and can't be attached in this forum. Stude8

[1937hd45]

stude8, Your above post brings up a question about the areo bodies used on the INDY Studebakers. I remember an article about one of these bodies turning upon the late 1960's.Did it ever get a chassis? This is a classic AACA class 24A lesson. A car runs Indy with an original body, is rebodied, then has the original reinstalled, same car looks like three different cars in three races.If someone found and restored a car with the aero body it wouldn't be allowed in ACAA competitin since it doesn't have the origial chassis. On the other hand I'd rather see the aero body on a replica of the original running gear than sitting on a shelf somewhere.

[Guest]

Back in 1985 or 86 a 1933 [i believe] Studebaker Indy race car was exhibited at Hershey. Then as now, all race cars had to be driven the day before the show to demonstrate their operability. As AACA VP of Class Judging in those 2 years, I had the responsibility of watching over the process. I took the opportunity to con my way into a few laps around the track in that car. Could that have been the same car as being discussed here ?

hvs

[George Rohrbach]

This ties in with both the "Interesting Paper" that this post started as, and the Studebaker Indianapolis Race cars.

A number of years ago I was lucky enough to get some of Luther Johnson's personal papers. He was actually employed by Studebaker when he did the "500". He also did some racing on his own (as his newspaper clippings and racing magazines attest). In the 30's Studebaker had him go out to the dealers with one of the race cars as publicity. (Sort of like today where a NASCAR driver and car might be at your local car dealership). I have planned for a long time to write an article for the ASC about him, but never quite get around to it.

Anyway, here is a pic of his business card!

[Guest stude8]

Hey Don, do you mean when the #34 1933 body turned up in a Chicago south side alley I the 1950's? See attachment. This body still exists in California but the owner of 30 years has done nothing with it. Alas, the back half on the present #34 restored car was built for Brooks Stevens by shop called Biasase Engineering in Milwaukee, WI. Stude8

Oh yes, George, that Lu Johnson card is a dandy!

[Guest stude8]

Along the theme of interesting paper, another photo of the afterlife of 1933 Studebaker racecar #34. The car was bought from Studebaker in 1934 by a wealthy man named Klock from Elgin, IL. He probably saw it raced at the Elgin road races during the Chicago Worlds Fair events. He had it rebodied as a 2 door sport car. That is how the original body left the chassis. Here is how it looked in 1951 prior to Brooks Stevens ownership. See attachment. Stude8

[juddman]

Cool thread!

Some cool stuff from Italy:

I have a large blueprint dated 1974 for a Lancia Stratos and sales literature for the Lamborghini Miura, Maserati Ghibli, and Fiat 131 Abarth Homologated rally car.

BMW's historic archive also gave me a photocopy of an original owner's manual for my 327 Cabriolet, which I thought was very nice. I've been looking for an original (I actually saw one on Ebay in Germany, but I couldn't convince the guy to ship it) - ah well!

Chris

[29 Chandler]

Here is a picture of the front cover of one of my most interesting finds(click on the attachment above). It was apparently released prior to the Mustang in 1964 to Ford dealers. I have never seen another one and based on the condition of this one I really don't think it ever made it to the dealer. It has 12 pages of information about the current sports cars in the market and comparisons to the "new" Mustang. Has anyone any information on this brouchure?

[Amphicar BUYER]

I have a few original Amphicar (and Amphi-ranger) brochures of differing types. I also have about 15 or 20 original articles as well. There just isn't much out there for the Amphicar in the way of original factory papers. Nobody seems to know what happened to them when the factory was closed in 1968.

I have an original Dealer sign and various amphibious toys too.

John

[Guest imported_GeorgeCagle]

I bought a Turner 850 many years ago and still have it. The paperwork that was with the car was what made me decide to purchase it. It is a 1955 model, and was the 13th car made. It came with a folder about 2 inches thick which contained a lot of treasures, such as the original invoice, shipping papers to get the car from the factory to the original owner, and shipping papers to get the car from England to America. This was one of the early "kit" cars such as Lotus and Elva. The original owner had a lot of questions about putting the car together and I have all of the original letters from Jack Turner on Turner stationary answering his questions. You don't get that from the bigger car companies.

If you have never heard of a Turner, check out the Turner website:

http://www.turnersportscars.com

To see my car, open Photos by Chassis Number and click on 30/013.

[Guest Awini]

i have a 1942 chevrolet shop manual, it has a rubber stamp inside from the war department authorizing its export and asking the user to keep it secure and destroy it after "use by" date to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. is this rare?

[Guest Indiana_Truck]

I have an interesting paper trail for a 1924 Indiana truck.

In 1984 I ran into a guy at a swap meet and found out he had some Indiana stuff at his home in Kokomo Indiana. The mans name was W. Spencer Huffman and I later went to his home where he showed me a book he had written on Indiana Built Autos. I bought one from him and now see one on ebay from time to time. He had a radiator emblem collection with a nice Indiana tag and a Moto Meter that I wish I had now.

His back room was full of boxes of stuff on old cars and trucks and he had some Indiana truck stuff but mostly from the 30's. Then he pulled out the black and white photo of the 1924 Indiana that I have a copy of now and gave it to me so I could have one made! Of coarse I gave back his original later but it blew my mind that he would trust me with it.

I have looked at that picture every way possible to try to see details since it was the only Indiana I had ever seen put together. My truck has always been apart since the day I found it in 1980. In the picture you can see a sign on the truck that reads, "Third Indiana Truck Purchased By The Henry Poor Lumber Company"

On the back of the picture it was marked with the mans name that was in the picture and said the picture was taken in 1925 in Lafayette Indiana. I have gone to the Henry Poor Lumber Co. just last fall and they have the original print of the picture on the wall to this day. I found out there was no way any of the 3 trucks were still around so no parts there but something else fell into my hands.

I had gone to Marion Indiana where the trucks were built and found some helpful items and had copies made for me. One was the book for the model OX Hercules engine my truck had. The book had been reprinted in 1951 by Hercules for the 1920's OX model engine and sent to someone that was rebuilding an engine.

Here is the interesting part for me, on the inside back cover of this book someone had written by hand in that old style writting that the 1924 Indiana model 11 and 15 owned by the Lafayette Lumber Co. had the OX Hercules and gave the Mccord and Victor numbers for the gaskets for the engine. This book had been used in the 50's to rebuild the engine in one of the trucks and maybe even the very same truck I have a picture of taken some 25 years or so before!