Bluebonnet time in Texas

Spring is here officially and this is the time of year when God graces us with bluebonnets.

What’s better than an old truck and a field of wildflowers?

Classic Cars

Yesterday was Motorhead Sunday at our church; two of our church members showed their cars alongside the ones from the classic car club, the chaplain of the car club preached, their quartet sang, then we had a bar-b-que dinner on the grounds.

It was a fine October day spent with excellent company!

Buick Riviera

1930 something Ford

This owner has a sense of humor.  They tow a trailer made to look like a classic car.  Access is through the hood, and a photo of a cat is in the window.

1959 Chevrolet.  What a beauty!

Incredible leg room back then,

and a clear view all the way around.

 

1931 Ford Pickup

Towards the far left center (as you enter through the front door) at the LoneStar Antique Mall, there sits a beautiful example of American engineering – an 1931 Ford pickup truck.

It’s displayed with some vintage looking Mobil oil signs, oil cans, etc.

Remember when they were called “service stations” and they really were full service?

“Check your oil for you?” the uniformed man would say as he was cleaning the windshield.

Sigh.

I digress. You can go here for the Wikipedia article on the 1927-1931 Ford Model A.

Because of so many other items surrounding it, I couldn’t get a good photograph of the whole truck.

If you can’t go to the LoneStar Antique Mall in Haltom City, Texas, you can go here to see a nicely restored one.

This vehicle is on my fantasy wish list.

Oddity

Yesterday Joe saw a Rolls Royce pulling into the gas station at Wal-Mart. He said the car was one of the vintage ones with the fancy grill on the front.

That’s Texas for you.

Eccentric millionaire? Chauffeur? Thrifty person who can afford a hand-built automobile after a lifetime of conserving money?

Obviously, not a snob.

Boy, would I like to know the rest of that story!

1963 Riviera

Every time we see a vintage Riviera, my husband always thinks about his Aunt Betty, who drove one out in Orange County, California.

No one in my neighborhood even owned a Buick.

The above photo is taken from the June 18, 1963 issue of LOOK magazine.

The magazine cost .25.

The car’s base price was $4,333 and with options ran up to $5,000 according to the Wikipedia article, which has some nice photos and the history of the car.

The average salary was $5,807 that year. Can you imagine buying a car that equaled your income?

For a list of other interesting facts and price about 1963, as well as a cool youtube video of Johnny Cash singing “Ring of Fire”, go here.

Vintage Pickup Trucks

1933 International Model D-1 truck

1946 Dodge truck

1950 Chevrolet pickup truck

1958 Ford Styleside truck

1968 Dodge Adventurer truck

Bucket seats, 1 383-cubic-inch V-8, and “car-type air conditioning”

1978 GMC

“Civilized in town as a car”

I apologize for the low quality of the pictures when enlarged. Even scanning them at the highest level didn’t help much.

Items from this post are from American Heritage magazine, November 1996.

Mobile Home

Isn’t this the cutest thing?

My sister and I were on our way to Sparks Fly Studio in Skiatook when I spotted this little house on the road last May. Fran very kindly pulled over so I could get the photos.

Main Street, Skiatook, Oklahoma

It would’ve been great to have talked to the guy and gotten the story: what was it built for, where did he get it, what was he going to do with it?

1950s Cars, Part III

1956 Pontiac station wagons

FOUR OF AMERICA’S BEST BUYS…for Beauty, Bigness and Blazing Go!

1956 Pontiac 860 4-Door

860 4-DOOR, 3-seat, with room for 9 passengers…both rear seats fold for extra carrying space

Why not have fun while you’re being practical?

Here are four wonderful ways to do just that! Each one is sleek and exciting as a sports car, handy as a pickup truck…and extra big in the bargain with a road-leveling 122″ wheelbase!

But the really breath-taking difference in Pontiac’s fabulous family wagons is the way the GO!

There’s nothing like it…because they’re powered by the greatest performance team ever offered in a station wagon…the mighty 227-horsepower Strato-Streak V-8 and revolutionary Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic Drive*!

That big, extra power means handling ease and liveliness you’ve never known in a big car before.

And wait ’til you hear the prices. They’re as practical and exciting…as the cars themselves…starting right down with the lowest!

See your Pontiac dealer soon – see why these fabulous ’56 Pontiacs are rated America’s best station wagon buys!

* An extra-cost option.

’56 STRATO-STREAK PONTIAC WITH STRATO-FLIGHT HYDRA-MATIC

1956 Pontiac 860 2-Door, 2-seat

860 2-DOOR, 2-seat, low-priced suburban favorite available in 48 color combinations

1956 Pontiac Star Chief Safari

STAR CHIEF SAFARI 2-DOOR, 2-seat custom de luxe style leader

1956 Pontiac 870 4-Door, 2-seat

870 4-DOOR, 2-seat, rear seat folds flat for 7 1/2′ carrying space with gate closed, 9′ gate open

PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION”

These ads are from the April 27, 1956 Collier’s Magazine.

1950s Cars, Part II

1956 Lincoln

“A Lincoln is to dress up and go

A Lincoln is a moving idea with 285 horsepower to second the motion

Each inch is luxury: 222 new inches of beauty and confort based on strength and safety and power

A Lincoln is one of the Ford family of fine cars

Every mile from the dealers’ doors these are the five best ways to get from place to place

the Ford * the Thunderbird * the Mercury * the Lincoln * the Continental”

1956 De Soto Firedome 4-Door Station Wagon

“One of 5
FORWARD LOOK VALUES OTHER CARS DON’T HAVE!

1 Pushbutton PowerFlite. Chrysler Corporation leads the field again with the driving advance of the year! Like magic – you just push a button and go! No levers or gears to bother with. Pushbutton PowerFlite is as easy as ringing a doorbell. Its simple mechanical design has been fully tested and perfected. Why not try it today?

2 Power Steering all the time! Other cars still haven’t caught up with Chrysler Corporation’s full-time Power Steering! It helps you 60 minutes of every driving hour!

3 Extra Power Longer! No other American passenger car V-8 engines have dome-type combustion chambers!

4 Safest Brakes! Chrysler Corporation brings you the biggest advance in brakes in 25 years! Easier, surer, less adjusting, longer lining life!

5 Brightest Design Note of 1956! THE FLIGHT-SWEEP – one clean aerodynamic sweep from headlight to upswept rear fender!

You get so much more for what you pay in a car of Chrysler Corporation. See your dealer now!

CHRYSLER CORPORATION
PLYMOUTH * DODGE * DE SOTO * CHRYSLER * IMPERIAL

See Chrysler Corporation’s Great TV Shows, “Shower of Stars” and “Climax!” Thursday nights, CBS-TV”

I apologize for the poor quality of these photographs. It has again become difficult to scan things in, and really difficult to get a good photo. When you click on each picture to enlarge, the quality improves.
These ads are from the April 27, 1956 Collier’s Magazine

1950s Cars

1956 Buick Special (Convertible)

“Gorgeous way to go Special

Somewhere deep inside you, haven’t you always yearned for a rakish Convertible like this one?

And if you could justify your purchase on purely practical grounds, woudn’t you give it real consideration?

Well, good sir, we have news for you.

This spirited sweep of gorgeous automobile is a Buick SPECIAL – the suave Convertible in Buick’s lowest-priced Series.

And that means it can be yours for just a few dollars more than similar models of the well-known smaller cars.

But right there is where the resemblance reaches an abrupt end.

For this is a thoroughbred Buick – blithe in spirit, and big in every sense of the word.

You have only to stand up close to know its ample breadth of dimension from bumper to bumper, from door to door.

You have only to put it in motion to sense on the instant, that here is a true big-car ride – smooth, level, solid against the road – and advantaged by a host of engineering gems.

Yet even that isn’t all.

For it’s when you bring this beauty from a standing start to full cruise that you learn of the thrills to be had in a ’56 Buick.

There’s the soaring lift of mighty power from Buick’s 322-cubic-inch VI engine to wing yo along with almost effortless ease.

And there’s the new wonder of an advanced Variable Pitch Dynaflow* – now with new instant response at only part throttle – and still with that spectacular switch-pitch action for a real safety-surge when you floor the pedal.

So why not let yourself go?

Why not look into this high-spirited beauty with the low price tag? It’s sheer sport, pure luxury – and it makes uncommonly good sense. Man to see is your Bucik dealer, and the time is now.

BUICK Division of GENERAL MOTORS

*New Advanced Variable Pitch Dynaflow is the only Dynaflow Buick builds today. It is standard on Roadmaster, Super and Century – optional at modest extra cost on the Special.

SEE JACKIE GLEASON ON TV Every Saturday Evening

Best Buick yet”

1956 Pinehurst V8 Studebaker

“PINEHURST V8 …210 hp…most luxurious and comfortable station wagon in its class. It’s the fine car for the man who does big things in a big way.

Tune in “TV Reader’s Digest” every week.

Studebaker Craftsmanship with a flair!
Division of Studebaker-Packard Corporation – Where pride of workmanship

still

comes first!”

1956 Studebaker stationwagons

“PELHAM…Big wagon ruggedness, room, and luxury at a low, low price. Plenty of power and zip from Studebaker’s proven Sweepstakes 185 Six engine.

Wherever you go…whatever you do…

PARKVIEW V8…Dazzling performance with distinctive beauty. Special double-teamed springs give you sedan comfort, even with heaviest loads.

One of these wagons is “right” for you!

Rugged and “right” – Studebaker brings you the most glamorous, stylish station wagons of them all. Here’s big room…a richly comfortable ride…an extra-strong body and frame to take years of hardest service. See and drive the new Studebaker wagons at your dealer’s soon!”

These ads were taken from the April 27, 1956 issue of Collier’s magazine, price – .15