1951 Mercury Hubcap

I was strolling along at an outdoor antiques market the other day when the Mercury Man caught my eye:

This particular cap is correct for a 1951 Mercury. It measures around eleven inches in diameter and marked the Mercury Man’s return from hubcap hiatus. I grabbed it quick because I just never find them at the flea markets where I live. You know where else you rarely find them? On ’51 Mercs.

This ’51 Merc is sporting ’57 Cadillac caps with chrome bullets . . .
. . . . and this one has spinners.

Vintage Studebaker Christmas Advertising

1914
1928
1929 Studebaker used as an ambulance until 1952 in Minden, Nebraska. Now on display at Pioneer Village.

Another Vintage Christmas Ad – 1932 Ford

1932 Ford at Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska.

1959 Ford F-100 on the Auction Block

This ’59 Ford is being auctioned off by Rhynalds in Minden, Nebraska. Seventeen days to go! Click on the photo to see more pictures and/or place your bid:

“El Capitan” Jumping Chevrolet Hoods in 1926

The caption reads: “Capt. H. S. Kelsey of the 143rd field artillery, one of the pride outfits of the Pacific coast, is shown here jumping his mount, “El Capitan,” over the hoods of two Chevrolets parked nose to nose. Although the motor car has replaced the horse to a great extent in the army, the noble beast still plays an important part in military training and maneuvers.”

Styles In Motorcar Body Types Officially Defined, Circa 1916

From the September 17, 1916, issue of The Butte Miner:

What is the difference between a coupe and coupelet, a touring car and a salon touring car? Here it is with other body types and distinctions officially determined lately by the nomenclature division of the Society of Automobile Engineers.

Roadster-An open car seating two or three. It may have additional seats on running boards or in rear deck.

Coupelet-Seats two or three. It has a folding top and full-height doors with disappearing panels of glass.

Coupe-An inside operated, inclosed car seating two or three. A fourth seat facing backward is sometimes added.

Convertible Coupe—A roadster provided with a detachable coupe top.

Clover Leaf-An open car seating three or four. The rear seat is close to the divided front seat and entrance is only through doors in front of the front seat.

Touring Car-An open car seating four or more with direct entrance to the tonneau.

Salon Touring Car-A touring car with passage between front seats, with or without separate entrance to front seat.

Convertible Touring Car-A touring car with folding top or removable glass sides.

Sedan-A closed car seating four or more all in one compartment.

Convertible Sedan—A salon touring car provided with a detachable top.

Open Sedan-A sedan so constructed that the sides can be removed or stowed so as to leave the space entirely clear from the glass front to the back.

Limousine—A closed car seating three to five inside, with driver’s seat outside, covered with a roof.

Open Limousine—A touring car with permanent standing top and disappearing or removable glass sides.

Berline—A limousine having the driver’s seat entirely inclosed.

Brougham-A limousine with no roof over the driver’s seat. more inside, and driver’s seat outside.

Landaulet-A closed car with folding top, seats for three or more inside and driver’s seat outside.

1932 Ford Roadster

“Auto State Revolutionizing Coast Passenger Traffic”

This was the title of a story in the November 23, 1919, issue of the Oakland Tribune in which the writer marveled at the fast rise of motorized stage coaches in the state of California. A total of 650 independent companies were operating approximately 3,000 stages. In 1918, a total of 118,000,000 miles were traveled in stages over the highway of the states by 25,000,000 paid fares, and business was expected to double for 1919. These pictures of some of the stages were included with the article:

The “Passing Eye” Vintage Accessory Mirror

Look what I found collecting dust in an antique store the other day: a vintage “Passing Eye” mirror!

The “Passing Eye” mirror was designed to give the driver a view of the oncoming lane of traffic when his vision was obstructed by another vehicle directly ahead of him. The outside mirror catches the picture of the oncoming lane of traffic and reflects the image to the inner mirror, and this enabled the driver to know if it was safe to pass without swerving into the middle of the road. This is what it looks like on the Dodge:

I found lots of newspaper advertisements for the Passing Eye, and they all date to 1949 and 1950 like this one from the May 24, 1949 Decatur Daily Review:

Note that the ad claims 49% of accidents were caused by “pulling out to go around.” That seems like a bit of an exaggeration, but it is still a neat accessory for any classic car!