favorite cars of the golden era

[Jerekson]

Looks like I'll be the first one to say the 55-56 Ford Thunderbird.

This car's been driving me nuts since I was a little kid, and I still have every intention of getting one eventually.

Personally I prefer the '56 over the '55, just because of the added goodies and perfected design...

Cherry red, with a white hard top...fender skirts, continental touring kit...:essen:

The '57 is nice too, but it feels a little more feminine to me somehow.

 

[JimInSoCalif]

The original T-Birds will always look good, although I prefer the first year model without the porthole in the hardtop and without the exterior spare. It might not have had the hood scoop either, but they are all good.

Cheers, Jim.

 

[Miss Hattie]

I think we have a winner , simply gorgeous!

Gee wiz that’s a super looking car, but I'm afraid the Lagonda's no match to the car on my 'never likely to ever happen' wish list.... It's a Rytecraft Scooter Car (1934-40) and I'll think you’ll agree that’s it's a simply adorable little run around. Perfect for little jaunts in the country and even better for nipping into town!

 

[PSK123]

Gee wiz that’s a super looking car, but I'm afraid the Lagonda's no match to the car on my 'never likely to ever happen' wish list.... It's a Rytecraft Scooter Car (1934-40) and I'll think you’ll agree that’s it's a simply adorable little run around. Perfect for little jaunts in the country and even better for nipping into town!

Hahaha awww, how cute is that!!!

Would have some fetching looks when turning up somewhere in Worcester with that

 

[Miss Hattie]

Haha – isn’t it just the bees knees. Would probably take me about an hour to get to Worcester as I think the top speed is around 40 mph! Not that, that matters. I say more time to take in the scenery!

That reminds me I must find the pic of a lady scooting along in MY car wearing a tin helmet- ahhhh what style!

 

[PSK123]

Haha – isn’t it just the bees knees. Would probably take me about an hour to get to Worcester as I think the top speed is around 40 mph! Not that, that matters. I say more time to take in the scenery!

That reminds me I must find the pic of a lady scooting along in MY car wearing a tin helmet- ahhhh what style!

Indefinitely, it's such a refreshing change to drive around taking in the scenery. Not being in too much of a rush and perhaps even stopping for a little picnic! The ultimate pursuit of happiness


Oh and you simply MUST find that photo!

 

[Miss Hattie]

Indefinitely, it's such a refreshing change to drive around taking in the scenery. Not being in too much of a rush and perhaps even stopping for a little picnic! The ultimate pursuit of happiness


Oh and you simply MUST find that photo!

Well I have found it and am flashing it at the computer screen in hope that you can see it and yes there was a few seconds in which I thought that it would actually work! (oh dear I’m showing my mental state! )

 

[PSK123]

Well I have found it and am flashing it at the computer screen in hope that you can see it and yes there was a few seconds in which I thought that it would actually work! (oh dear I’m showing my mental state! )

Senior moment? Showing your age? Could be either of those really

I can't really comment on "computer moments" though hahaha lol

 

[FStephenMasek]

Many of the Studebaker models look nice.

All of the "classic" cars are functionally (acceleration, braking, handling, safety, convenience) junk when compared to modern vehicles, even inexpensive modern vehicles. Watch the IIHS videos on the side wreck performance of the Crown Victoria to see how that old-style body on frame design performs. Have you ever driven and old car and tried to stop? Better plan way ahead and hope there are no surprises, especially with four wheel drum brakes.

However, various otehr old things are just as good or better than modern items:

Old clothes may look just as nice or nicer, be as durable or mroe durable, and be as comfortable or more comfortable than modern clothes.

Old radios may pull in stations just as well or better than modern ones,a nd may sound as well or better than modern ones.

 

[shortbow]

If I could own any car I wanted, I'd choose the '32 Model A coupe. As to the most thrilling ride I ever had, I got to mash gas in an open Morgan many years ago, 200 miles worth. I can still remember looking over that little folding windscreen, hearing the twin carbs suck air and the engine note singing as I worked through the gears. I'm still smiling. There ain't a plastic, modern computer-on-wheels-so-called automobile worth a tinker's damn in comparison to the old stuff. Modern technology is engineering all the soul out of everything.

 

[JimInSoCalif]

Excuse me for nit picking, but Ford made the Model A in 29, 30, and 31. Ford made some 32's with the four cylinder engine instead of their new V-8 which were the Model B - I have never seen one yet. I think there was a four cylinder engine with larger main bearings used in trucks called a Model C.

The last Model T that I know of was made in 1927. I don't know what they did in 28 - hard to imagine it took a full year to retool.

Maybe we have some Ford historians here who know?

Cheers, Jim.

 

[JimInSoCalif]

Modern cars, stop better, accelerate better, handle better, don't need points and condensers replaced, don't need valve lash adjusted, nor a host of other maintence procedures, I suggest that they are better machines by far. When was the last time anyone did a ring and valve job. The don't overheat, nor have vapor lock and start easily in cold weather. Most of them don't leak oil either.

I agree that most of them are about as exciting as refrigerator, but most are about as reliable as a fridge too.

Probably the worst part of the design on some is that a broken timing belt will cause the valves and pistons to meet with loud expensive noises.

They are no longer shade tree mechanic friendly, but as I mentioned most of the maintence that they performed is no longer done.

My favorite car from the old days is the 1937/1938 model 810/812 Cord - a beautiful machine. As an aside, the 50 some odd Tuckers that were built used the Cord FWD transmission as a transaxle.

Cheers, Jim.

 

[Flivver]

Excuse me for nit picking, but Ford made the Model A in 29, 30, and 31. Ford made some 32's with the four cylinder engine instead of their new V-8 which were the Model B - I have never seen one yet. I think there was a four cylinder engine with larger main bearings used in trucks called a Model C.

The last Model T that I know of was made in 1927. I don't know what they did in 28 - hard to imagine it took a full year to retool.

Maybe we have some Ford historians here who know?

Cheers, Jim.

The Model A was introduced in December, 1927 as a 1928 model. The last Model T was made in May, 1927. The resulting interruption in production for re-tooling allowed Chevrolet to outsell Ford for the first time in 1927.

Ford continued to offer the 4-cyl engine, alongside the V8 in it's 1932-34 passenger cars. These were called Model B in 1932. The 4-cyl engine was reasonably popular in 1932, but 4-cyl 1933-34 Fords are relatively rare.

 

[Flivver]

Modern cars, stop better, accelerate better, handle better, don't need points and condensers replaced, don't need valve lash adjusted, nor a host of other maintence procedures, I suggest that they are better machines by far. When was the last time anyone did a ring and valve job. The don't overheat, nor have vapor lock and start easily in cold weather. Most of them don't leak oil either.

Cheers, Jim.

Right you are, Jim.

Prior to WWII, it was not unusual to expect to do a ring and valve job every 10-15,000 miles! Tune-ups were an annual event and burning a quart of oil in 400 miles was considered normal. I have an ad from a piston ring manufacturer in the teens bragging about oil consumption of "only" one gallon per 1,000 miles! We have come a long way.

Today's cars will go 100,000 miles on their original set of platinum spark plugs and tune-ups are a thing of the past. Most of today's cars will easily run 200,000 miles without major repair and the better ones will top 300,000 miles.

I buy my cars at 100,000 miles and drive them the second hundred. Taking my 2000 Grand Marquis (for which I paid $3,200 two years ago) from 100,000 to 155,000 miles has cost me just $50 in repairs for a new ignition coil that I replaced myself in 5 minutes. And the car diagnosed itself via the onboard diagnostic system standard on all cars 1996 and newer. All you need is a scan tool to read the codes.

I love old cars and agree that the modern ones are often lacking in personality. But for daily driving, I'll take a modern one any day.

 

[Jerekson]

Why not take the best of both worlds?

Get a vintage body, wheels, and anything else that you like the look of, and outfit it with modern parts.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Right you are, Jim.

Prior to WWII, it was not unusual to expect to do a ring and valve job every 10-15,000 miles! Tune-ups were an annual event and burning a quart of oil in 400 miles was considered normal. I have an ad from a piston ring manufacturer in the teens bragging about oil consumption of "only" one gallon per 1,000 miles! We have come a long way.

Today's cars will go 100,000 miles on their original set of platinum spark plugs and tune-ups are a thing of the past. Most of today's cars will easily run 200,000 miles without major repair and the better ones will top 300,000 miles.

But, once they reach 300,000. they're ready for the wrecker! My '46 Plymouth has been mainly on the road since new, took a few years off till my buddy bought it and got it running... then, I've been driving her daily since I bought her in 2004.

You have to do more preventive maintenance on these older cars and replace things now and again, but, you know what, it costs me little compared to repairs on a modern car... a new clutch will cost me about $300. bucks compared to my brother’s 2003 Eclipse he has... cost him $1,200. to do the same job! My car isn't fast, doesn't handle as well as a newer model but, that's why I LOVE my old car, it seems to float on the road, I take my time and enjoy the ride... and my hat don't hit the roof! I also love bench seats and HATE BUCKET SEATS WITH A RED BLOODED PASSION! They wreck my back and others I know have back problems from bucket seats.... cars today are aircraft designed cockpits... NO THANKS!

An article I read about a man who owns a '48 Plymouth P-15 has owned it since new, driven it to 43 states, 3 provinces, and up to Pike's Peak! Still drives now to this day with over 600,000. miles on it! Yes, had the original motor rebuilt, and some other things replaced over time but, damn, that car is still driving!!

Modern cars are great for daily use and they do last a good number of years but, once they reach a peek, they're done... not worth saving. My car will go up in price as I own it and keep it running... modern cars, not so much.

I am an old car nut, I love all the little things about old cars that most of you guys hate... so, I'm cut from a totally different cloth. Also, I have met so many great people at gas stations who want to talk about cars and who love seeing something so neat and old on the road still... I must say, the small problems aside, I'm happier then I would be with a modern "Convenience" car... that's for sure!

Old cars are a true labor of love... and if ya don't have that love, stay out of the hobby... you'll be better off.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Why not take the best of both worlds?

Get a vintage body, wheels, and anything else that you like the look of, and outfit it with modern parts.

That's called a "Resto-Rod" many are doing that but, not as well as one guy I know, a friend of mine up north has a '37 Buick four door that looks stock, and all but is totally fitted with a Chevy 350 and modern trans (Still a standard thank goodness... no sissy automatics) But, he built this car all him self... he also does his own work on it... it's not an easy thing, takes a lot of work and knowledge about cars to hide all the modern stuff so you can't see it.

I say, just buy a nice 40s car on Ebay for under $10k and enjoy it on the weekends... if you're not up on driving it daily... that's your best bet. Or, you could just split the manifold and ad another carb and ad another exhaust pipe... I saw a beautiful '38 DeSoto that had it's original motor and two carbs and a split manifold... the guy said he could get up to 90 with out a sweat! But, said he didn't wanna go faster because of the bias ply tires. And the great thing is you can still get parts for flat head 6's and they're not hard to rebuild if one should need it. I swear by my flat head 6... it was the best motor Chrysler ever made! Most reliable and you can hop it up a bit for better performance... it's a wonderful motor!

Old isn't bad, it's just understanding how it works and how to repair it.

So, let's talk about our favorite cars and WHY we like them, and not why we don't like them!

 

[shortbow]

Good stuff FM. Some of this stuff is like other threads on FL, where people argue why modern is better than vintage. That is all fftopic: .

If folks are so wedded to defending the latest greatest, I don't get why they would be members of a discussion board dedicated to old stuff and old ways.

Is FL about vintage or not? I'd just really like to know because this is not the only thread where vintage is either trashed, or ignored in favor of the flavor of the month.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Good stuff FM. Some of this stuff is like other threads on FL, where people argue why modern is better than vintage. That is all fftopic: .

If folks are so wedded to defending the latest greatest, I don't get why they would be members of a discussion board dedicated to old stuff and old ways.

Is FL about vintage or not? I'd just really like to know because this is not the only thread where vintage is either trashed, or ignored in favor of the flavor of the month.

THANK YOU! And here I thought it was just me!

 

[Flivver]

Sorry my post was construed as trashing vintage cars. Nothing could be further from my intent. I only wanted to point out how far we've come with easy to maintain cars. I love vintage cars and really enjoy working on and driving them. But I drive more than 500 miles a week to and from work and wouldn't have the time to properly care for a vintage car as a daily driver. So I save the vintage car hobby for my time off. I really envy those of you who *can* drive a vintage car on a daily basis.

More to the point of this thread, one of my favorite vintage cars is the Hudson Super-Six, made from 1916-1929. This was a large, medium-priced, powerful car that was used by cops and criminals alike. They even raced in the Indy 500 during the teens.

The Super-Six was the first production car (in the U.S. at least) to use a balanced crankshaft. This allowed the engine to red line at twice the speed of other engines of the day and thereby put out more horsepower. The Super-Six engine was a 289 CID L-head six that put out 76 HP...making it a muscle car in it's day. In 1927, Hudson added an F-Head cylinder head to the Super-Six, upping the horsepower to 92. There were other cars of this era that were more powerful, but nothing at a similar price could touch the Super-Six until competitors copied the balanced crank idea.