Random Thoughts...
- Thread starter Wyandot Jim
- Start date
I read that link. Everything in there is 3rd hand - he said, she said. That's very different from what I experienced as a 12-year-old, riding in the back seat of my dad's 1960 Chevy, as he piloted it at 80+ mph on the way from Dallas to New Orleans. The back end got LIGHT.
He said, she said, I said. Take your pick. [And no Bob Seger jokes.]
He said, she said, I said. Take your pick. [And no Bob Seger jokes.]
Armybrat
Hunter
1941 Buick at Camp Hood (Fort Hood, now Fort Cavazos) Texas in 1948.
I’m the little shaver standing in front of my Dad.
We had the whole first floor of the quarters at the left.
I’m the little shaver standing in front of my Dad.
We had the whole first floor of the quarters at the left.
So you say. The parents of a friend in high school had a '59 impala. They'd let him borrow it occasionally. I can gaurantee we had it well above legal highway speed more than once. No lift. There's not enough wing surface, and what there is, is shaped wrong to provide lift. Wind tunnel tested.Urban myth.
https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/the-fabulous-59s-inside-chevy-stylings-wildest-year/
From the link above:
The unconventional look even generated a barstool theory that the horizontal fins generated aerodynamic lift at speed, unloading the rear wheels. Decades later, Frank Markus of Motor Trend magazine arranged to test a '59 Chevy in the GM wind tunnel and proved that the story, while gossip-worthy, was a myth
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I had a '60 Bel Air. It was junk.
Confession: I always thought the '59 Buicks were cool off the scale, from the day they came out. Any model, any series, except the cobbled together wagon. The 2dr hardtops were gorgeous, in a Jetsons sort of way...
caryc
Hawkeye
When I was in high school, a buddy of mine had a 1956 Buick two door hard top. It was powder blue with chrome reverse rims with baby moon hub caps. It was absolutely gorgeous. That was back when the Buicks had the year 1956 imprinted on the rear trunk ornament. One didn't really have to do a lot to make cars beautiful back then. They started out beautiful. They also had that cool speedometer. Instead of the needle that moved like a gauge, they had a solid red color that moved in a slot from left to right. I think it also changed color at a certain speed. They also had those fake holes on each side where header exhaust could blow out.
If you google 1956 Buick speedometer you can see pictures of how that speedometer worked.
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1959 Caddy was the Epitome of cool. Almost looks ready for takeoff!!!
Here's a piece of semi-interesting trivia: Those are called cruiserline ventiports and they were a Buick signature design element for years. Maybe decades. They might still be on Buicks for all I know.
OP
AHHHHHHHHHHH yes but did you have a 3 or a 4 holer???
My Dad had a 55, 3 holer and I had a 57, 4 holer.
The 4-holers were the top of the line cars, like the Wildcat and Electra 225. Lesser cars only got three.
I think my '65 Buick Special 2DS had them in vestigial form on the chrome side trim, or something. Sometimes they were on the rocker panels.
Here's a '65 Skylark with the same thing, just the first pic I saw I could pirate.
OP
This is like the 57 4 holer I had in 1962-64. Wish I still had it, one beautiful ride.
Don Lovel
Hunter
Back in the 1970's I had a 66 GMC 3/4 ton fleetside pickup. It had the 305 cu in cast iron V6 with huge pistons and crankshaft. The generator, starter, water pump and fuel pump were hand rebuildable and my local Case tractor dealer had all the parts in stock to do it. Alot of torque. 3 speed column shift. I cracked the tailshaft bearing housing on the 3speed tranny and installed a granny gear 4 speed, bell housing and larger clutch out of a wrecked 65 1 1/2 ton Chevy in it. It ran 7.50/16 split rims that were a dangerous pain to change a tire. Limited slip big hub rear axle. I had a piece if 3/4 " steel plate cut to fit the bed floor and with lug tires I rarely got stuck. I had a nice camper and lived in it while on hoedad tree planting crew in Arkansas working Wèyerhauser contracts. Made good money
That truck paid for itself a thousand times over the money I had in it. Finally the brake drums wore beyond repair and because GMC had a few different brake assemblies in light trucks I could not find any to turn and use. I sold it to a farmer who had several beat to crap GMC's.
Recently I saw a restored 66 3/4 ton sell for $85,000 in a big auction.
That truck paid for itself a thousand times over the money I had in it. Finally the brake drums wore beyond repair and because GMC had a few different brake assemblies in light trucks I could not find any to turn and use. I sold it to a farmer who had several beat to crap GMC's.
Recently I saw a restored 66 3/4 ton sell for $85,000 in a big auction.
caryc
Hawkeye
I could not agree with you more. My sister had one and blew it up for ignoring the oil light. The 59 Pontiac was also a big boat that year and a great looking car.
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO CAR DESIGNERS ???? IN TODAY'S WORLD ONE CAN NOT TELL THE MAKE OF A NEW CAR BY JUST LOOKING AT IT.
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Armybrat
Hunter
Our '54 Super was a three holer.
I have a T shirt that says "There are 10 kinds of people who understand binary, those who do and those who don't"
Hint: programmers do.
OK for the base 10 schooled... In Binary 00 is zero, 01 is 1, 10 is 2, 11 is 3, 100 is 4, 101 is 5, 110 is 6, 111 is 7 etc.
Hint: programmers do.
OK for the base 10 schooled... In Binary 00 is zero, 01 is 1, 10 is 2, 11 is 3, 100 is 4, 101 is 5, 110 is 6, 111 is 7 etc.
OP
The 59 Wide Track Pontiac is what put Pontiac sales back in the black. I'll take a Convertible with Tri-Power and a 4 speed with bucket seats. Thank you very much
caryc
Hawkeye
Put me on the list, I'll take one too. 
WV460hunter
Blackhawk
Too much practicality in cars anymore and not enough just making ine for looks and fun.
OP
Well I guess you have not been to the Corvette Store Lately
Neither one are the least bit practical but they sure are fun.
If I won a big lottery, one of the first things I would do is search for a fully restored 1965 Jaguar XKE convertible. Maybe the most beautiful automobile ever built.
OP
I had a 69, 6 cylinder and a 73, V12 cylinder both were low milage perfect 18K Roadsters. In 1973 I paid $4500 for the 69 and traded it a year later plus $1000 for the V-12. They were fairly cheap cars at the time The V12 is a much better car with the longer wheelbase and more power. With the V12 it would accelerate in 4th gear from 5 MPH without a stumble. Would do at least 150 MPH no problem.
If you are going to wish wish for the V12.
I had to sell mine, along with other toys, to be able to afford to move to an airpark and buy a 68 $500 6 cylinder chevy pickup to build a house with
The 69 like I had
The V12 like I had My 73 did not have the big rubber things on the bumper like this 74 has
Yea, XKE’s are cool. But they couldn’t handle dead man’s curve.
Sadly, they straightened the curve put in so many traffic lights and traffic is so heavy you’d be lucky to do the speed limit on Sunset Blvd today.
But for kicks a buddy in a 68 Camero and me in my 68 Nova did race from Sunset and Vine one morning about 3 AM. That was 1971. Lights were going in but we blew through those. I sometimes wonder if we weren’t the last ones to race to Dead Man’s Curve.
Sadly, they straightened the curve put in so many traffic lights and traffic is so heavy you’d be lucky to do the speed limit on Sunset Blvd today.
But for kicks a buddy in a 68 Camero and me in my 68 Nova did race from Sunset and Vine one morning about 3 AM. That was 1971. Lights were going in but we blew through those. I sometimes wonder if we weren’t the last ones to race to Dead Man’s Curve.
OP
Just for the record. Jaguars 120/140/XKEs were winning races before Chevrolet and you could even spell CamAro and Nova A good 4.2 DOHC XKE will top out at 150+MPH
Well - the last thing I remember, Doc, I started to swerve And then I saw the Jag slide into the curve I know I'll never forget that horrible sight I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right
A good 4.2 DOHC XKE will top out at 150+MPHWell - the last thing I remember, Doc, I started to swerve And then I saw the Jag slide into the curve I know I'll never forget that horrible sight I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right
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caryc
Hawkeye
Sorry Jim but, my opinion is that they have never improved the looks of the corvette since the first models with the big scooped out sides. They just flat out ruined it's looks. If I had the money Elon Musk has I still wouldn't buy one. I just don't like their looks. I never liked the stingray either.Well I guess you have not been to the Corvette Store Lately
Neither one are the least bit practical but they sure are fun.
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I like my EDD Ford Bronco 1990
OP
Yep they looked cool. But the solid axle Vetts were crap and could kill you faster than the new ones.
My neighbor has a 58 like this.
caryc
Hawkeye
Have you checked on him lately to make sure he's not dead?
Now that's crap with style
OP
NAAAAAAAAAAAA It scared him so bad he just drives his 2013 and 2024 ZO6sHave you checked on him lately to make sure he's not dead?
The 2024 he got a couple weeks ago
He also has this along with 30-40 other cars for backups
Wife's Vette
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Had a friend with a '58 'Vette with the base 4-bbl 283 and a Powerglide. He got it cheap because it had a lotta miles and some body damage. I was working in a body shop at the time, and we fixed all the problems and painted it silver metallic with the white side coves. It also had the optional hard top, nice in winter. I believe the '58 was the only year with all those fake "louvers" in the center of the hood. They were a pain to prep for painting. Fun car if not particularly zippy.
