We spent an enjoyable morning at a local shop digging through dust-covered inventory in search of desirable parts. Adding to the ambience of the dig was this neat project in the middle of the shop:
Until recently, this ’52 Dodge Coronet Business Coupe had been in storage for decades. It originally had a 230-ci flathead six, but now it’s about to get a new bowtie in the form of a 327/300 hp Corvette engine. A Mopar with a Chevy engine is controversial to some, but there is no arguing that the result will be tons of fun to cruise around in.
Here are just a few of the parts we came away with. First, a horn button from a 1950 Crestliner, one of the most sought-after Ford steering wheels:
This illustration from the ’50 Crestliner brochure shows the horn button on the “ultramodern” steering wheel against the background of the two-tone Sportman’s Green and black dash (it was also available in Coronation Red Metallic and black):
We also found these and, to be honest, we didn’t know exactly what they were at the time:
The K stands for “Kaiser,” of course, and some online sellers had them listed as horn buttons, but that just didn’t seem right. A little time and research resulted in the realization that they are backup light deletes/covers for a Henry J, and they are exceedingly rare. It is somewhat hard to make out, but the ’53 Henry J in this photo is sporting a pair:
Photo credit: CZmarlin — Christopher Ziemnowicz
We also found this 1949-1950 Frazer hood ornament in surprisingly good condition:
This ornament measures 17 inches long and features a knight’s head and an aerodynamic vertical fin, and it was the first official hood ornament for Kaiser-Frazer. The company didn’t make hood ornaments standard until 1951. Because cars were being sold without that extra touch of class gracing the hood, aftermarket companies seized the opportunity to produce hood ornaments specifically targeted to Kaiser-Frazer owners such as this buffalo sold by Gem:
These were made of cheaper materials that didn’t always survive the time and elements, so they are also difficult to find. We really hit the jackpot this week, however, and we walked away with one of those as well:
Sorry, this one is NFS. Both our county and our local school mascot are named for this majestic creature, so into the private collection it goes. Speaking of buffalo, I also found some old brochures that were published by the local Chamber of Commerce in 1922. These pamphlets touted the things Kearney, Nebraska, had to offer in the way of schools and industry, but this town was filled with hot rodders from the very beginning, and so the Chamber also felt compelled to mention that Buffalo County had the fastest dirt track in the state:
A selling point, to be sure.
