Guest Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 This was sent to me by a friend from my past, which was 50 odd years ago in the '50s. I guess she still remembers riding around in my '41 Cadillac in college. I thought I would pass it along for others to remember. Subject: A blast from the past! I haven't thought about "fender skirts" in years. When I was a kid, I considered it such a funny term. Made me think of a car in a dress.Thinking about "fender skirts" started me thinking about other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice.Like "curb feelers" and "steering knobs." Since I'd been thinking of cars,my mind naturally went that direction first. Any kids will probably have tofind some elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you.Remember "Continental kits?" They were rear bumper extenders and spare tirecovers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.When did we quit calling them "emergency brakes?" At some point "parkingbrake" became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with"emergency brake."I'm sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call theaccelerator the "foot feed."Didn't you ever wait at the street for your daddy to come home, so you couldride the "running board" up to the house?hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 Good one, Howard...Just off the top of my memory bank, I recall my Dad having to take off the "fender skirts" for the Winter snows so the "tire chains" would not chop them up.How about "3 on the Tree". (3 forward gears with the shift lever on the steering wheel column.)How about the annual ritual of putting on the rear wheel snow tires before Winter."Glass Packs?"...(oops! Sorry, with that one I'm outta' here...)Peter J. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF1 Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 Glass packs? -- that's so Sixties. How about the original Smitties of the Fifties, filled with steel wool, long before fiberglass came along? And "steering" knob? How about "squirrel knob" or "necking knob?" Everyone knew what an 8BA or 8CM was, and we all had an Iskie cam and Stromberg 90 carbs, as well as spinners (hubcaps to you youngsters, with a single bar across 'em). When your car was "leaded," it didn't refer to the gas; just de-chromed. Shackle kits dropped the rear end; a chunk of concrete in the trunk sufficed for the poor. Sleepers were half-round chromies that covered the top half of your headlights. Blue dots were those illegal-as-hell taillights with the round blue center. Looked neat at night -- but the cops hated 'em. And, of course, the Appleton baby spots, which were so much fun at the drive-in theater....but don't get me started on drive-ins!And the ultimate: Drill and thread a hole in each echo can (chrome tailpipe tips) and screw in a sparkplug. Wire them to a Model T coil under the hood. Flip the switch when burning out, and you had a three-foot flame shooting out of each pipe when the plugs ignited the unburned gas. Very impressive, but you had to be careful for obvious reasons.Ah, to be young again! <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BillP Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 And for the rich kids, lake pipes. For the rest of us, go to the junk yard, saw a couple gas filler necks off gas tanks, replace the cork gaskets in the cap with ones cut out of a thin piece of asbestos siding, weld the pipes into the exhaust pipe before they wye together, torch out the inside of the original pipe and you have "plugs". Use gloves to remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How about the annual ritual of putting on the rear wheel snow tires before Winter."Peter J. </div></div>Well for some of us at least this is still a "ritual". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL) Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 What's a "snow tire"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 Dave...sorry for being remiss that rear snow tires remain in areas other than my own cars. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> (Had a '72 Nova SS that was so light in the rear it rendered snow tires useless. Hard time getting out it's own way...) Hal...good question coming from your locale. (Personally, I'm trying to forget what rear snow tires were/are...)Who can submit the proper description of old iron that had reservoirs of sand in compartments located just in front of the rear tires for release should the car start losing grip in the snow? I have no idea, however, recall seeing the same.Hey, Alf...great memories. Related, I used to remove straight pipes from my '58 Chevy at inspection time. As soon as I came home, put them back on. (Not being a rocket scientist, the car was in my father's name. Received 2 tickets, of which, Dad was the "mail recipient". End of the '58 Chevy as I knew it...)Regards, Peter J. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 Peter, In this neck of the woods on the back roads the highway dept. still put out wooden boxes filled with sand on the top of hills. If you get stuck and can't get up the hill you will need a shovel to help yourself to the sand but they do come in handy. I used to carry "chains " as well and used them many times when i would get my truck stuck. I still put snow tires on all 4 corners of my rear drive Volvo and Ford each winter. The Packard is put away from November till May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 The "early" Volkswagens...recall the turn-signal arms that would flip out of the B post (from memory?) after indicating direction from the normal column mounted lever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF1 Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 One name I failed to put in my posting, and I hope it evokes nostalgia for some of you: <span style="font-weight: bold">EDELBROCK</span> Anybody remember it? And does anyone know if the company is still in business? <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75 LeSabre Custom (Alex Clark) Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 Is Edelbrock still in business?!?!?!?!? Heck yes they are. As soon as I had the money for one I ripped the old, broke down, and for the most part non-functional Quadra-Junk....err I mean Jet (even after over-haul), carb off my Buick, and replaced it with a brand new Edelbrock Series 600 carb. Best thing I've done for that car yet. Never had a problem with it ever. Easy to adjust and work on. You'll never hear a complaint from me about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest John Chapman Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 Alf,Not only are they still around, http://www.edelbrock.com/, they are very active in the performance motoring circuit. The company truck is a fixture at the Chrysler Speed Classic at North Island in San Diego (Oct 9, this year). The Edelbrock girls routinely trounce the competition with their mid-60's Mustangs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF1 Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 Good to hear that some things are enduring as well as endearing...Guess, as the kids say, Edelbrock Rules! <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> As soon as I had the money for one I ripped the old, broke down, and for the most part non-functional Quadra-Junk....err I mean Jet (even after over-haul), carb off my Buick, and replaced it with a brand new Edelbrock Series 600 carb. Best thing I've done for that car yet. Never had a problem with it ever. Easy to adjust and work on. You'll never hear a complaint from me about it. </div></div>Alex, I just added the same carb to my 62 Invicta!! Boy, just the savings on gas will pay for this in no time. What a trouble free carburetor!!Does anyone remember adding spider hubcaps with 60 Olds trim rings? They sure looked good! How about dice on the valve caps?? Kids would always steal them for their bikes.Before the 8-track tape players came out we had 45rpm record players. I still have mine in my 62 Buick. Holds 12 records.What about the small lights under the front wheel wells!!Did anyone ever steal a heater from a drive-in??.....Those good old days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 How about the ring on the gunsight hood ornament on the '46-'47 Buicks. The high school girls of my day wore them as bracelets. They snapped right off in one piece with just a quick tug. In '48 they put two side braces on the ring and no more bracelets. Of course if you got caught getting one of these "bracelets" you could end up in another kind of bracelets, the kind with the chain between the matched pair. Then there were the 16 1/2 RPM phonographs in the mid '50s Chryslers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One name I failed to put in my posting, and I hope it evokes nostalgia for some of you: <span style="font-weight: bold">EDELBROCK</span> Anybody remember it? And does anyone know if the company is still in business? <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span> </div></div> I saw Vic Jr. and one of his daughters at the Vintage Races Saturday at Lime Rock Park, in Sharon Connecticut. They were running a Corvette and a Mustang this year. His Knoblie (sp) bodied Chevy powered Lister is one of my favorite vintage racers. Nice to know that after all these years he has been able to finaly buy back the car that started it all, his dads 1932 Ford roadster. There was a nice feature on it in one of the magazines this year. Could see it at Hershey in class 24A some day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 37, he also owns Smokie's Camaro, number 13. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">37, he also owns Smokie's Camaro, number 13. </div></div>Yes, That was at Lime Rock a few years ago flawless restoration that they also race the wheels off of. ...... The more I think about it it may have been a Chevelle, the "3/4" one Smokey built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_jmarsicano Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 How about Moon? Remember those eyes? They made great equipment back in the day and are still open!Don't forget baseball cards in the spokes!Bonniville Salt flats? I think they still run there once a year. Somebody can correct me.Halibrand? Great wheels.Mechanical Hilborn Fuel Injection. Stu is still around and shows up at the big meets.Just a few I could think of while looking around the shop.Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 Bonneville is alive and well, Speedweek just ended and World of Speed is in a week or two. Click onto the SCTA website for the latest results. The top three things I want to do car wise are attend Bonneville, Pebble Beach and tour the Nethercutt collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 Does anyone know if Gordon White still runs his pre war midget at Bonneville. A number of years ago he set a new world speed record for his class in that car. That same car was shown in AACA almost 20 years ago, Winchester, VA, National Spring Meet in 1985 I believe it was.hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 Had a nice chat with Gordon at Lime Rock Saturday where he was road racing his OFFY Midget. I don't think he has plans of going back to Bonneville. As far as I know he is the only guy to take an AACA National Senior car out to Bonneville and set a speed record, pretty neat in my book. Speaking of books he has written two on Offenhauser history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 Howard, don't know if he still races, but let me tell you a story. I attended the race car seminar in Philly this year and noticed that Mr. White was from Virginia. I had no idea who he was as I'm from Nascar country. After the seminar ended I went up to meet and talk to him. He indicated that he had written a few books on the old dirt track, midget type racers. I then asked where he lived in Virginia. To my surprise his house is only 35 miles from mine. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> You never know the famous people in the world who may be your neighbors. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted September 11, 2004 Share Posted September 11, 2004 How about Raccoon tails tied to the antennas..? what was the purpose of these anyway? Why not squirrel tails, or rat tails???Do you remember hanging your graduation tassel from the rearview mirror??Or your girlfriends?How about a little religious statue stuck to the dash with a magnet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snappydwp1 Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you remember hanging your graduation tassel from the rearview mirror??Or your girlfriends?</div></div>Someone stole my graduation tassel off the rear view mirror from my 58 Edsel in the early 70's right after I graduated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_mossiyjack Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 How about Ardun flat head Ford conversions to overhead valves. I had a '51 Allard that had this setup, Hillborne fuel injection, Sintilla vertex mag. Had the car for 25 years then made the mistake of trading it for a 911 Porche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 PLEASE!!!!!!!! Tell us you just made up that story! An Ardun/Allard is knocking on $100,000.00 now, what do 911's bring? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Just in case you don't know what an an Ardun conversion looks like this an original piece of literature that shows the front and back view. Just unbolt the Ford flatheads and install the voluptuous Ardun Hemi heads and go racing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Hey Bob! Aren't you the one who sold the head conversion some time ago? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_mossiyjack Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 I must say I blundered, the tale is true. I sold the Porche for 12K, the guy that got my Allard sold it 3 years later for 89K and I think I saw it advertized a few years ago for $250K. However it may not have been the same car. I had letters from Arcus Duntoff the designer of the setup, we redesigned the oiling distribution for the rockers. As I recall Duntoff was with Cev. Corvette Div. The Hilborne injection(constant flow) was not a very efficient fuel system until up to high speed, not good for running around town. I had the car for 25 years having bought it in 1962 for $900 while in the airforce. I can't complain, I had my share of fun in it. It certainly gathered a crowd. I won many bets when I opened the hood as many thought it was a Chrysler hemi in there. The twin water pumps was the tell-tale clue as to what engine powered it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Zora Arkus-Duntov. I hope the AACA Library has a copy of Jerry Burton's fine book by the same name that traces the history of this automotive ledgend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Yes, I hope so too, Bob. The Hilborn injection system might not have worked around town very well, buy Duntov's Corvette system worked just fine, thank you very much. My 375 hp Corvette engine gets about 20 miles per gallon on the road, even considering the heavy footed driver. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> It's a shame it was so expensive to manufactor, which lead to it's demise. Of course by 1965, the big block Chevy came out, and as everyone knows, it's hard to beat cubic inches when you're looking for speed. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Of course by 1965, the big block Chevy came out, and as everyone knows, it's hard to beat cubic inches when you're looking for speed. Wayne </div></div>True, but if you really wanted to tear up the highway you'd get a 427 COBRA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 And now for more mundane things...How many of you guys still carry a vulcanizing kit in your trunk?When was the last time you used one ?( I still pack mine (ancient Shaler cast-iron clamp), and had to use it to patch two tubes this past spring...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 What's a tube, Frank? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 one word.....PORTOWALLS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Harlin Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 They should last longer to day, fewer curbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Van Arsdale jr. Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 How's about hanging chains from the rear bumper to drag on the ground - depending on who you talked to, they were to decrease the hazards of being struck by lightning, to improve radio reception - or to just plain irritate by making sparks - along with inviting the question "why do you have those chains dragging"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 I read an article over the weekend on a accessory that GM had for Oldsmobile's (maybe others?) in the 70's. I believe it was a punch card type monitor that would automatically spit a card out when the vehicle needed servicing. It is supposed to be a very rare item and didn't last to long. Anyone ever here of such an accessory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">one word.....PORTOWALLS </div></div>Believe it or not, they still sell them!! I have a set on my Metropolitan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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