Vintage Cars

[David Conwill]

Early postwar cars are great hobby cars. Plugging into the right owner group is critical, and I'd suggest subscribing to a publication like Hemmings Motor News (yes, I work there, but I think you'll find unbiased sources agree with me) to find parts and services specific to whatever you end up with.

I would be inclined to suggest a 1946-'49 (first-series) Dodge or Plymouth. They're rugged, reliable cars with great parts availability and a low buy in. They even have a great online presence thanks to http://p15-d24.com/



Good luck!

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'll second the recommendation of the P15-d24 board -- it's an excellent and deep storehouse of information on all pre-1950s Chrysler products, with an emphasis on all variations of the Flathead Six. If the figures 1-5-3-6-2-4 mean anything to you, that forum will have everything you need.

Parts are widely available too -- between Andy Bernbaum and Roberts Motor Parts, you'll find everything you need.

 

[1930artdeco]

I agree that you need to be plugged into the right group for what ever car you want to get. The big 3 will have the best parts availability for NOS and repo. However, if you like the 'offbrands' like Hudson, Kaiser, Packard etc. you will just have to hunt a little/lot harder for parts and the price will of course go up. Especially if shipping to Viet Nam.

Mike

 

[GHT]

If the figures 1-5-3-6-2-4 mean anything to you, that forum will have everything you need.

That has to be the sequence for tightening the cylinder head bolts.
My friend's 1940's Plymouth is shown on various threads. There's quite a following of the marque both here and mainland Europe. Owner groups are extremely helpful with either obtaining spares, or making them.
When my MG needed a spring replacing in the trafficator, the little semaphore arm that was the early direction indicator, I discovered an owner in Australia who, experiencing much difficulty in finding a replacement spring, made his own. It was so easy just to buy one from him, only took three days to get from Australia to the UK. So do check out those owner groups.

 

[David Conwill]

That has to be the sequence for tightening the cylinder head bolts.

I think it's the firing order, actually.

 

[GHT]

I think it's the firing order, actually.

Of course it is, silly me, imagine having just six head bolts.

 

[Talbot]

Always enjoy my Hemmings and your contributions. Many thanks.

Early postwar cars are great hobby cars. Plugging into the right owner group is critical, and I'd suggest subscribing to a publication like Hemmings Motor News (yes, I work there, but I think you'll find unbiased sources agree with me) to find parts and services specific to whatever you end up with.

Good luck!

 

[GHT]

430 classic car owners turned out today, so many cars to admire, the sunshine helped. There's quite a few photos on my phone, I will put a few up at a time, for now enjoy the fantastically restored, 1924 La Salle, and one that just made me smile, a humble, but adorable, little Austin.

 

[GHT]

The first photo was taken from a drone, sorry about the quality, it's from a text off my phone.

 

[Harp]

The first photo was taken from a drone, sorry about the quality, it's from a text off my phone.
175484[/ATTACH]

I had a 1994 Jaguar XJS convertible until the Internal Revenue Service and I had a little disagreement.
Wonderful drive for four years.

 

[GHT]

Was your's the V12 coupe, or the convertible?

 

[Harp]

Was your's the V12 coupe, or the convertible?

I had the convertible, India 6 engine good for 15-16 miles to the gallon. Loved that car.

 

[Fading Fast]

James Bond’s 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Is Up for Auction

One of the reasons I love living in NYC is that cool stuff comes to you like James Freakin' Bond's original Aston Martin on display just five blocks from my apartment at Sotheby's.

Sotheby's notes and awesome pics:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/article...ton-martin-db5-goldfinger-rm-monterey-auction

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19/monterey/lots/r0050-1965-aston-martin-db5-bond-car/778818--


SGF's pics from today (reflections made interior shots very hard):


And here's the thing - the car is way cooler in person. Some things disappoint in person, or up close, or over time - not this car. It is impressive and beautiful. Would I want to own it? No, it belongs in a museum (and this from a guy who believes most vintage things should be enjoyed, but you don't hang the Mona Lisa in a pizza parlor, or take Bond's car out for a spin), but I would - money being no object - love to own that model, from that year.

And this mood setter:

 

[Harp]

James Bond’s 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Is Up for Auction

One of the reasons I love living in NYC is that cool stuff comes to you like James Freakin' Bond's...[URL='https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19/monterey/lots/r0050-1965-aston-martin-db5-bond-car/778818--'][/URL]

[URL='https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19/monterey/lots/r0050-1965-aston-martin-db5-bond-car/778818--'][/URL]

Fantastic ride, and Q never joked about the ejector seat...but Bond's appeal to me were his women,
most notably Lois Maxwell and Eunice Grayson, and the others....

 

[Fading Fast]

Fantastic ride, and Q never joked about the ejector seat...but Bond's appeal to me were his women,
most notably Lois Maxwell and Eunice Grayson, and the others....

I agree. Unfortunately, so far, it's only been the car, but if Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet or Honor Blackman show up in my neighborhood, I'll pop over to see them as well - especially Ms. Mallet circa her "Goldfinger" days.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Pulled up behind this '46 Ford rat rod truck the other day.

 

[GHT]

I agree. Unfortunately, so far, it's only been the car, but if Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet or Honor Blackman show up in my neighborhood, I'll pop over to see them as well - especially Ms. Mallet circa her "Goldfinger" days.

You won't find that many 93 year-olds as well preserved as Honor Blackman.

 

[GHT]

Taken on a vintage festival day back in June. I think that this is a Sunbeam, but I'm not certain. Lovely condition though.

 

[vitanola]

Taken on a vintage festival day back in June. I think that this is a Sunbeam, but I'm not certain. Lovely condition though.
View attachment 176165 View attachment 176166

 

[GHT]

The MG that I have is known as a Y Type. After the war, when car production restarted, (MG, like many other factories, made war produce throughout WW2,) the only two cars that MG could produce was the little MG TC sports car and the slightly larger Y Type. Reason being, whilst car production ceased throughout WW2, so did research and development. In an effort to increase choice, MG made a convertible version of the Y Type. But the hand built cars were only made to order, after building just 877 of them MG realised that there wasn't the demand.

Today, the Y Type commands a very high price, and if you have one on foreign shores, you are going to have a very rare car indeed. So if you find yourself in Virginia do look out for this fine specimen. A truly fine example of what can be achieved with skillful restoration.