Can you name the car that this tail light belongs to? Scroll down for the answer . . .
. . . . 1959 Ford!
Tail Light Tuesday
1960 Chevy Nomad
A couple of month ago this Chevy station wagon caught my eye, and you can read that post here.
I was lucky enough to run across another one the other day, this one with the Nomad trim level (and the original tail lights)! Just beautiful!
Oldsmobile Hood Emblems
I often hear from people who need help identifying the tail lights, hood ornaments and hub caps left in the barn they have just inherited. Their grandfather/father/uncle knew what everything was, but now he is gone and the lucky beneficiaries don’t know what they have. It is a sad fact that every time we lose a guy like that, a wealth of knowledge goes with him. I try to help when I can, and have started putting together some guides like this one on Ford V8 hubcaps. Another area that generates a lot of confusion is the Oldsmobile “ringed globe” hood emblems. The various versions do look very similar, so here are some part numbers and pictures to help you sort it out.
This 1948 with distinctive down-turned grille sports the Oldsmobile crest with the “winged spur”. This was the year before Olds started using the ringed globe.
In 1949 and 1950, all of the Oldmobiles used the same hood emblem. (Note: The ones that I have seen are marked with part number 556420, but the Olds parts book says that all 1949-50 models used part number 559173. Motor’s Flat Rate & Parts says the 1949 “98” uses part number 556649. The Olds parts book mentions something about a hood conversion, so maybe that explains the confusion.)
In 1951, the Super 88 used this emblem (part number 560055).
The other 1951 models (“88A” and “98”) used part number 560058.
In 1952, all Olds models used part number 562144.
In 1953, the ringed world emblem was two separate pieces. Only the 98 Fiesta Convertible differed from the other models by using part numbers 563868 and 563872 (not pictured). The rest of the Oldsmobiles used part numbers 562787 for the bar and ring and 562789 for the world insert.
In 1954, all models used the same emblem. It was two pieces, part numbers 565126 for the bar and ring and 563869 for the insert.
For 1955, all of the models again used the same emblem. Part numbers are 566353 for the bar and ring and 566354 for the world insert.
The 1956 version looks very different from the earlier ones. The part number is 567448.
The hood emblem was once again re-styled for 1957, and then gone completely from the hood of the ’58.
Tail Light Tuesday
Can you name the car that this tail light belongs to? Scroll down for the answer . . .
. . . . . . . . 1948-51 Hudson Super (also used on the Pacemaker)!
FOP Radiator Badge
It has been awhile since I’ve posted anything because we’ve been distracted by the week-long craziness known as Nebraska’s Junk Jaunt. The Junk Jaunt is a trail of approximately 500 miles, filled with hundreds of garage sales and antiques vendors, that winds along the Loup River and through the scenic Sandhills. People come from all over to treasure hunt, alone or in packs, and the whole thing has a fun, festive atmosphere.
The selection did not disappoint this year. My daughter is a World War II buff, and she was understandably thrilled to find an Air Force foot locker from that era with a leather flight suit still in it. My favorite automobile-related find was probably this item:
This is a radiator badge and, as you can see, it reads, “Associate Member Fraternal Order of Police”. It is no surprise that it has some damage. It would have been wired to the front end of an automobile where it would have faced considerable wear and tear, and it is old. No older than 1915, however, because that is when the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) formed after founders witnessed how firefighters bettered their working conditions by negotiating as a group.
I like the symbolism of the FOP’s star emblem. It is hard to make out on my badge, but the symbols on the two legs of the star are an open eye on the left and clasped hands on the right. According to the FOP website, “The open eye is the eye of vigilance ever looking for danger and protecting all those under its care while they sleep or while awake. The clasped hands denote friendship. The hand of friendship is always extended to those in need of our comfort.” The blue field represents the thin blue line protecting those served by law enforcement, and the motto in the center of the star reads “Jus, Fidus, Libertatum”. This Latin phrase translates to “Law is a Safeguard of Freedom”.
Tail Light Tuesday
Can you name the car that this tail light belongs to? Scroll down for the answer . . .
. . . . . 1951-1952 Chevy!
Whales on Wheels
I saw something yesterday that I had never seen in-person before. I am talking about a group of Corvair Ultra Vans, and these “whales on wheels” constitute a truly unique chapter of American automotive history.
There is an Ultra Van Club, and some of its members are holding a rally in Kearney, Nebraska, this week. On Wednesday, they parked downtown and very generously opened up their vehicles to the general public while patiently answering everyone’s questions. The club has a website that you can check out for more information about these fascinating vintage motorhomes.
Created by an aircraft designer in the 1960s, they are a true “monocoque” structure. I had to look that word up, but it means that the skin itself is structural and supports the load. In other words, it has no frame or chassis. The center section is built like an airplane with sheets of aluminum riveted over aluminum ribs.
The curved front and back are fiberglass. According to Ultra Van owners, all of these lightweight materials enable the Ultra Van to get better than 15 mpg while cruising down the road.
The Ultra Vans are 22 feet long, 8 feet wide, and able to turn 50 degrees to the right or left which makes them more nimble than most motorhomes. Less than 400 were produced, but there are still more than 100 of them navigating the highways of America so keep your eyes open for one. They are powered by the 6-cylinder Corvair air-cooled engine, so if you happen to be behind one while going up any type of incline, you should have ample time to study it.
Sixty-Onederful Chevrolet Impala
This stunning Impala bubble-top represents the best of 1960s cool with iconic triple tail lights and dual rear antennas:
Engine choices in ’61 included the 235 6-cylinder, 283 V-8 with either a 170-hp 2-barrel carb or a 230-hp 4-barrel, and a 348 with 250 to 350-hp. A Super Sport package was introduced in the winter of 1961 that marked the first appearance of the legendary 409 and, incredibly, it was done with very little fanfare. The newspapers from that time have just the barest mentions of the momentous occasion, and most did not even reference the 409. This one, for instance, uses the occasion to mention the Ford 390:
It didn’t take long for speed enthusiasts to take notice, however. This ad was in the classified section of the L.A. Times, and it didn’t mince words:
I am not sure what “1961 International Track Record Champ” means, but I think it must refer to Don Nicholson’s surprise win with a 409-powered Impala at the 1961 NHRA Winternational (the inaugeral running of the race in Pomona, Calafornia).
Sources:
Tail Light Tuesday
Can you name the car that this tail light belongs to? Scroll down for the answer . . .
. . . . . . . 1966 Chevy Impala!
Old Trusty
We went to Clay Center, Nebraska, over the weekend to check out the Old Trusty Antique and Collectors Show. It was the 37th annual event, and it did not disappoint. If you like anything (or everything) with wheels, you will appreciate the acres and acres of antique cars, trucks, tractors and engines. The show included classic vehicles with four-wheels, two-wheels and even a half-track, early engines of all kinds, original horse (and donkey) power and a veritable sea of red, green and orange paint. Here is just some of what we saw:
