Over Accessorized Cars

[Ron Green]

I have showed the amphi at several AACA nationals however I enter as a do not judge as I want to fill the paperwork out and try to have the Amphicar accepted in the limited production class. We are currently negotiating for the purchase of another amphi and that will be a nut & bolt restoration and run through the system. It was semi hard to convince the wife to keep the current amphi as a beater. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

The general view of this thread seems to reflect the original claim of 57birdman:

"Somehow, I don't remember many mid 50's Ford Sunliners or Skyliners sporting continental kits and fender skirts. Those are just two of the most obvious examples. I saw a 1940 Ford convertible that was in great original condition...."

The problem we have here is that either everyone is too young to have observed, too old to be able to remeber, or lived so far out in the country they had little change in scenery during the 50 and 60's even into the early 70's to be aware.

Overly embelished cars with accessories (visors, skirts, contenental kits, spot lites and the like were primarily prefered by certain ethnic or cultural factions. They could afford all of the accessories because it was common in those days (40's-70's) for several families to pool resouces to buy a car so equipped. Of course each family had their own idea of which accessory was a "must have". If i remeber rite i believe it was Buick or Cadillac that actualy offered a pic-nic basket option.

NOW. With that said i'm sure there will be some politicaly correct, socialy responsible, or someone just plain offended, try to take issue with my explanation. Better leave it alone. I've pumped gas back in the 70's and stood there too many times at the car window waiting for the 8-10 occupants of the car to argue over whose turn it was to pay for the $2 worth of gas i pumped into their tank. Even got one of the finest fried chicken legs i ever ate handed to me one time as a tip.

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

Furthermore: What are the judging "rules" governing any of the SuperFly conversions ca. 1977-1982???? I've not seen one in years. They were butt ugly but somehow i'd still like to have one.

[Guest Randy Berger]

Mr. Hinson,

the quote has been attributed to that remarkable elocutionist, Yogi Berra.

Sometimes his sayings are far truer than they first appear <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[mrpushbutton]

Packard V-8--have you ever seen a 70's "party van" at an old car show? Those things were everywhere back in that era, and you just don't see them anymore. Of course, the host vehicles (commercial vans) that they were made from LOVED to rust right out from underneath you. A lot of great airbrush art and shag carpet went into those.

Re: your tale of the "community cars"--that was absolutely the case. My friend Bob worked as a mechanic at Ken Brown Chrysler/Plymouth on Jefferson ave. in the 70's. He remembers seeing cars come back to the dealership one month after he prepped them fresh off of the hauler from the factory (you always remember those cars because of the way they were ordered--fancy!). These cars would come back to the dealership five weeks after the owner(s) took delivery with 5,500 miles on the odometer. He figured that the thing had never been shut off from the moment it left the dealership lot. You pulled the dipstick and you were sure of that fact!

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

The last several posts should give some insight to those younger people that claim "over accessorized " cars did not come from the factory as claimed in the first post of this thread. It is nearly impossible to analyze many (but not all) aspects of the auto industry without taking into account certain ethnic/cultural, religous or regional impact on it.

[Restorer32]

Here in PA there are certain Mennonite sects that allow the use of cars but only if all of the chrome is painted black with apparently no accessories whatsoever. With no disrespect meant whatsoever we always called them "The Black Bumper Boys" every time we saw one of their vehicles on the road.

[Guest De Soto Frank]

Bruce McCalley's comprehensive book on the Model T Ford features a circa- 1912 Ford runabout

(Torpedo?) that was a "black-bumper Mennonite car... all the polished brasswork had been painted-over black.

The car was still intact when purchased by a Richard Fox (?) in SE Penna, who showed it as is for several years...

[1957Birdman]

I think a lot of accessorizing in the 1950's was aimed at creating a "low buck" customizing job on a car. My cousin had a '57 Chevy convertible with skirts, a continental kit, dual antenna's, spinner-hubcaps, and it was lowered in the rear. Adding that stuff was a whole lot less expensive than customizing that required major sheet metal alteration. I liked that sort of stuff when I was a kid. As I grew older I began to appreciate more the original look, especially when unadorned with extra add on parts. One of the reasons I like the original T-Birds is that there were very few things that could be added to them from the accessory catalog. Since that is the case you seldom see the cars "gooked up".

I do remember seeing cars like the one that Packard V8 described. They were by far the exception than the rule and were most likely not ordered that way from the factory. A lot of times the visual effect was tantamount to painting mustache on the Mona Lisa.

[Guest Randy Berger]

You can see a lot of that today in Calif. Fringe balls hanging all over the inside of the car, steering wheels made out of chain, neon lights under the car, etc. Most of the "accesorized" cars of the 50's were done with legitimate factory/dealer options. In 1958 a friend had a 55 chevy convertible with continental, skirts, dual rear antennas, power pack and big wooden blocks taped to the brake and accelerator because he was only 5'4" and couldn't reach the pedals. A lot of guys dechromed the car, primered it and left it that way. I called them "East Coast Customs". <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

I mite add that ubundantly adorned cars were also popular among the low income southern rural whites. Ever hear of Kentucky Wonders??? That is the long full width rear mud flap often seen 50's - 70's . Even to this day it is common (right here in my own rural area) to see late model 4-wd's, SUV's fully decked out with every roo gaurd, roll bar and baha light in the world and the like parked in front of a single wide trailer sporting polyester curtains and a rotting redwood deck. A $40K+ vehicle maybe even 2 or 3 of them parked out in front of a house trailor or mill wood shack that will be bulldozed over in a few years.

So the over accessorized car is authentic.

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

Early to mid 60's Canadian versions of American cars (Acadian = Chevy II, Meteor = Failane, pariseanne = Pontiac) were nauseously adorned with additional exterior trim like little stars, extra trim strips and so-forth from the factory. I never heard any good explanations for this. If i remeber rite, even the Mercury pick-up truck (same as Ford) had some rather gaudy extra trim on it too.

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

HEY!!! i'm not making this stuff up.

[mrpushbutton]

Restorer32--in the 80's Chevy sold a package that they dubbed "euro sport edition" which had all falt black trim--what had previously been chrome/stainless. We called those "Mennonite sport editions"

[mrpushbutton]

While we're on this topic, It's a pretty well known fact that the immediate post-war cars '46-'50 were frequently trashed up at the dealer before they ever went on to the lot. The dealer knew that every one of them was sold, why not sell them with 5 or 6 "factory authorized options". A lot of those cars had Unity spotlights and other gee-gaws that were in the phamphlet.

[Guest leadsled1953]

i know that the visior on my 1950 desoto was put on before 1955.that year a set of atlas black wall tires were installed.i do not know if white walls were on it new.the only changes to my car were wheels and whiewalls.i did pick up fender skirts .someone gave me a nice set of unity spotlites[off a 1960 fire truck] and i'm debating about puting them on the desoto.so the only stuff i plan on putting on my car were available at the time. my car came without a radio.the only option i think was the fluid drive semi auto and a heater[option?].to me a bare bones stocker is nice but a few accessories[as long as they were period correct] are kool too.just no spinning hubcaps please!!!!

[Clipper47]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">While we're on this topic, It's a pretty well known fact that the immediate post-war cars '46-'50 were frequently trashed up at the dealer before they ever went on to the lot. The dealer knew that every one of them was sold, why not sell them with 5 or 6 "factory authorized options". A lot of those cars had Unity spotlights and other gee-gaws that were in the phamphlet. </div></div>

That is certainly the case with my '47 Packard Super Clipper. The dealer installed bumper over-ride bars, licence plate frame and foglights.

[rocketraider]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">popular among the low income southern rural whites</div></div> Hmm- that describes me growing up, but nobody I knew had cars like that! Not even the "community cars" you described earlier. Maybe being away from larger cities, we just didn't see such.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Kentucky Wonders??? That is the long full width rear mud flap often seen 50's - 70's </div></div> And all this time I thought that was a variety of climbing snap beans- green beans to those of you not in the South. Quite delicious too. All I ever saw the full-width mudflap on was station wagons.

[Dave@Moon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Ever hear of Kentucky Wonders??? That is the long full width rear mud flap often seen 50's - 70's . </div></div>

I wouldn't call these "adorning" anything. They were rarely installed for looks. These were marketed as a practical accessory for staion wagons. These flaps stopped the spray from forming under the car (to a large extent), which then did not fly up behind the car and adhere to the back window blocking the view. They were later supplanted by the airfoils applied to the side and top of the tailgate. The rear wiper (now ubiquitous) was a better solution.

If you ever saw one on a sedan, however, it was strictly for looks! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

[Clipper47]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Ever hear of Kentucky Wonders??? That is the long full width rear mud flap often seen 50's - 70's . </div></div>

I wouldn't call these "adorning" anything. They were rarely installed for looks. These were marketed as a practical accessory for staion wagons. These flaps stopped the spray from forming under the car (to a large extent), which then did not fly up behind the car and adhere to the back window blocking the view. They were later supplanted by the airfoils applied to the side and top of the tailgate. The rear wiper (now ubiquitous) was a better solution.

If you ever saw one on a sedan, however, it was strictly for looks! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /></div></div>

If you've never travelled on gravel roads I guess you would not appreciate a full length mudflap. My game warden trucks had full length mudflaps to prevent gravel from spraying up behind and breaking a following vehicle windshield but also to keep the dust from obscuring the view for vehicles approaching and following.

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

I never said the Kentucky wonders or any of the other accessories were useless. Only conspicuous.

In reality the kentucky wonders were an attempt to keep gravel from beating the daylites out of the gas tank. The dirt roads i've driven on deposited dust ALL OVER the car. THere is NO way to keep a car clean on a dirt road especialy in very dry conditions. AND i am speaking a DIRT road NOt a well graveled road. Ther is a BIG difference. Dry or wet.

[Clipper47]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I never said the Kentucky wonders or any of the other accessories were useless. Only conspicuous.

In reality the kentucky wonders were an attempt to keep gravel from beating the daylites out of the gas tank. The dirt roads i've driven on deposited dust ALL OVER the car. THere is NO way to keep a car clean on a dirt road especialy in very dry conditions. AND i am speaking a DIRT road NOt a well graveled road. Ther is a BIG difference. Dry or wet. </div></div>

Sorry if you took my comment the wrong way. I wasn't referring to you specifically. Yes I know what you mean by DIRT roads believe me!

[Shop Rat]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Even to this day it is common (right here in my own rural area) to see late model 4-wd's, SUV's fully decked out with every roo gaurd, roll bar and baha light in the world and the like parked in front of a single wide trailer sporting polyester curtains and a rotting redwood deck. A $40K+ vehicle maybe even 2 or 3 of them parked out in front of a house trailor or mill wood shack that will be bulldozed over in a few years.</div></div>

Which looks something like this gingerbread <span style="font-style: italic">house</span> , right? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Twitch]

And for those that are not interested in a national organization judging there were myriad aftermarket parts and accessories available that were legitimately used during the era of the car. Honest Charlie, J.C. Whitney and many other smaller outfits sold everything from multi-carb intake manifolds to custom radio knobs- just like today.

As a side note my uncle worked for a dealership aftre he got home from the war and told me how the dealers loaded every conceivable factory accessory part onto the cars in 1946-48 in an attempt to boost profits which the war took away.

[Guest Stonefish]

So what is the bottom line on judging cars with aftermarket accessories? I recall being told by a judge to remove the original factory mats, with Wolfsburg crest and all, from my Squareback so points wouldn't be deducted?!?

[R W Burgess]

Ron, if it was an AACA judge asking you to do this, he just wanted to inspect the underside of your mat, to make sure you weren't hiding a defect.

Wayne

[Guest Stonefish]

It was indeed an AACA judge...he also recommended to keep the mats at home next AACA event. I understand the reason to check for defects, but is it necessary to keep the mats out?

[R W Burgess]

No, that is incorrect. He may have been new. How you arrive at a show or what you have on the car before judging time is immaterial. Particapants have many add-ons to protect the finishes or upholstery of their show cars during transport. They also have plenty of time to remove such items to ready the car for display. Why, even old Pedro removes his XXXX from his Triumph! Well, let's just say a lot of antique lovers have their own way of preparing for car shows. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wayne

[MCHinson]

Or maybe the judge thought that the mats were aftermarket and was trying to help save some points?

[Paul Dobbin]

It seems this entire thread is concerned with "Judging" someone else's

pride and joy. Remember that the the biggest percentage of our members

don't give a flip about being a "National First Car", they are in the hobby

because they enjoy antique cars. If they like mud flaps, continental kits

and cruiser skirts because it's living a dream that took 50 years to live,

more power to them.

Those guys pay to display their cars and make the whole trophy thing happen

for the the purist with the trailer queen. With it's black wall tires on a

black car with black wheels and black pin stripe it does represent the way

they left the factory, but not the way people personalized their cars.

I had a letter from Henry Ford written to his Dealers in 1915 telling them

to paint the Model T's any color the customer wanted, just sell them a car!

So, I painted mine red and it was always the rose amoung the black cars that

were "Factory", but mine could have come brand new with its red color from

the same dealer that sold all the black ones. I liked it and that's what

counted for me.

Welcome a younger member by accepting his choices of accessories, he'll

pay for your trophies and have fun doing it. When he wants a prize he can

put it back, if that ever becomes important to him.

[D Binger]

AMEN Thank you for saying what you did. Remember - - -cars were ment to be driven, right Paul?

[1957Birdman]

Since I'm the one that started this posting, I want to clarify my intent. As I said in my initial posting, an owner can do whatever he wants with a car because he owns it. I was just suggesting that people consider the result when they add extra items to their cars. It really has nothing to do with judging. I can see a day when someone comes up to an owner of a 1956 Ford Sunliner that is restored to factory original condition and asks why it doesn't have spot lights, fender skirts, and a continental kit. Just because a car could have come from the factory that way does not mean that many, if any, did. If we are trying to preserve automotive history for future generations than it is worth considering the statement we are making with our cars. If you decide to accessorize your car than no harm, no foul because it is your car to enjoy as you please.