Mid-century Antique
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Topic author - Posts: 6443
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Mid-century Antique
I saw a 1958 Rambler sedan on the road today. Red and black, fancy trim level, looked like a totally stock original with slightly oxidized paint.
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- Posts: 3870
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:24 pm
- First Name: john
- Last Name: karvaly
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 14/15 wide track roadster. 23 touring, 27 roadster pickup, 20ish rajo touring
- Location: orange, ca
- MTFCA Number: 14383
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: Mid-century Antique
Those were quite the sports car. Italian made Ramblene.
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Topic author - Posts: 6443
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Mid-century Antique
Being red & black, I suspect it had the big V8. It could be as late as a 1960 model. A few of those cars could out-run most high school hot rods coming and going.
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- Posts: 1397
- Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2022 11:24 am
- First Name: Rich
- Last Name: Bingham
- Location: Blackfoot, Idaho
- Board Member Since: 2015
Re: Mid-century Antique
In the day, the Rambler was perceived as the most uncool car on the road.
Get a horse !
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Topic author - Posts: 6443
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Mid-century Antique
True enough, Rambers & Nashes... but they built some "sleepers", and I don't just mean those full reclining seats ... Who needed a Motel 6 when you could get a rolling bedroom that you could take to the drive-in?
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- Posts: 6815
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
- First Name: Richard
- Last Name: Eagle
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
- Location: Idaho Falls, ID
- MTFCA Number: 1219
- Contact:
Re: Mid-century Antique
Part of our Auto Mechanics class in the '60s was to work a few weeks at a dealer. I got the booby prize of the Rambler shop. It was interesting and I got in on all kinds of repairs. The final blow was when my folks bought a new Rambler a few months later. Mom thought it was wonderful compared to the '57 Ford it replaced. The automatic transmission beat the guesswork of a manual shift which she had never mastered. I did find the reclining seats nice though.
When did I do that?
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Topic author - Posts: 6443
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Mid-century Antique
I'd have stuck with the Ford. A friend's dad had a '57 Fairlane 500 fordor... with a 312 T Bird engine and automatic. I had a '57 Fairlane 500 phaeton that I dragged out of a junkyard. It had about 5/8 of a 312 in it.
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- Posts: 2260
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
- First Name: Brent
- Last Name: Burger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
- Location: Spokane, Wa.
- Board Member Since: 2014
Re: Mid-century Antique
Hudson, Nash, and AMC mastered the styling niche of ungainly
and dumpy by the time of the merger. Their only real competition
was Studebaker and imports. Ford was pretty good at making dumpy
cars in this period too, but somehow managed to sell lots of them.
When the aesthetic was low, and looking like a dart sailing across the
landscape, even when standing still, the above names made tall and
stubby cars, maybe tacked on some ill-fitting fin era gee-gaw, and
focused sales on "practical" buyers. Those more inclined towards
fuel economy than zoom and style.
From a distant seat, 60 years on, those toady cars of the 50's have
a charm all their own, and contemporary jokes about them are becoming
harder to understand as time goes by. My DeSoto represents the more
slippery styling of the period, but I hunted 30 years to find my monotone
Buzzard Puke Green stripper Plymouth sedan to have a toad in my stable.
They showcase the fanciest and cheapest vehicles a person might find at
their friendly DeSoto-Plymouth dealer in 1958.
and dumpy by the time of the merger. Their only real competition
was Studebaker and imports. Ford was pretty good at making dumpy
cars in this period too, but somehow managed to sell lots of them.
When the aesthetic was low, and looking like a dart sailing across the
landscape, even when standing still, the above names made tall and
stubby cars, maybe tacked on some ill-fitting fin era gee-gaw, and
focused sales on "practical" buyers. Those more inclined towards
fuel economy than zoom and style.
From a distant seat, 60 years on, those toady cars of the 50's have
a charm all their own, and contemporary jokes about them are becoming
harder to understand as time goes by. My DeSoto represents the more
slippery styling of the period, but I hunted 30 years to find my monotone
Buzzard Puke Green stripper Plymouth sedan to have a toad in my stable.
They showcase the fanciest and cheapest vehicles a person might find at
their friendly DeSoto-Plymouth dealer in 1958.
More people are doing it today than ever before !
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Topic author - Posts: 6443
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Mid-century Antique
I'd like to have a 1956 Chevrolet 210 2 door with a 235/overdrive, push button radio, fresh air heater, and no AC/PS/PB.
A 1953 Ford Mainline business coupe with a V-8, overdrive, pushbutton radio, and Magic Aire heater would also be nice.
Some cars are appealing in base trim, and some just aren't. The '53 Plymouth four door stripper in Buzzard Puke Green wasn't much on looks, but they were good cars.
A 1953 Ford Mainline business coupe with a V-8, overdrive, pushbutton radio, and Magic Aire heater would also be nice.
Some cars are appealing in base trim, and some just aren't. The '53 Plymouth four door stripper in Buzzard Puke Green wasn't much on looks, but they were good cars.
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- Posts: 222
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:15 am
- First Name: Bill
- Last Name: Harper
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '14 Touring, '20 TT Farm Truck, '24 TT Depot Hack, '24 Coupe, and a 1914 Metz Model 22 Torpedo Runabout
- Location: Keene, New Hampshire
- MTFCA Number: 5414
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Mid-century Antique
I recall my parents buying a brand new 1959 Rambler station wagon. I was only five at the time, but I do remember the vestigial tail fins.
Fast forward to my college days and, for my junior and senior years I had a 1956 Plymouth Belvedere four door hardtop in Turquoise Blue and Eggshell White. It had a flat head six cylinder engine and a two speed push button controlled transmission with no park button, you HAD to use the parking brake or the car would roll away.
The car did not accelerate; it gained momentum.
The bench seat had me feel that I was driving around on the living room sofa.
Fast forward to my college days and, for my junior and senior years I had a 1956 Plymouth Belvedere four door hardtop in Turquoise Blue and Eggshell White. It had a flat head six cylinder engine and a two speed push button controlled transmission with no park button, you HAD to use the parking brake or the car would roll away.
The car did not accelerate; it gained momentum.
The bench seat had me feel that I was driving around on the living room sofa.
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- Posts: 87
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:11 pm
- First Name: Craig
- Last Name: Vechorik
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Touring, 1922 coupe
- Location: Stugis, Mississippi
- MTFCA Number: 32602
Re: Mid-century Antique
My father bought a brand new 1958 Rambler cross country station wagon. Two tone blue with the tail fins! 6 cylinder with a Borg Warner overdrive. I was 7 years old. I remember riding home with him in the new car. He had those clear plastic seat covers installed at the dealer. The car did not have air conditioning. I remember how miserable and HOT those seat covers were. If you wore shorts, your sweaty legs would stick to them! He traded in a Henry J, when it bought it. My old man gave it to me in 1970. I had the car until the late '70's. I drove that car, many many miles before I foolishly sold it. Sadly it was involved in a wreck and totaled... The idiot I sold it to, totaled it..
"If a fly can, a flywheel"
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Topic author - Posts: 6443
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Mid-century Antique
Those knobby clear seat sovers were horrible in hot weather. They soon yellowed if exposed to much sun and looked nasty, too. The woven plaid nylon insert covers with the bright red, green, blue or yellow diamond pattern upper sections were a little better, but they'd give you a powerful electric shock when you touched the door handle in cool, dry weather.
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- Posts: 356
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2021 7:17 am
- First Name: Tad
- Last Name: Glahn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Coupe, 1926 TT Closed Cab, 1924 Runabout
- Location: Grant's Lick, Kentucky
- MTFCA Number: 51667
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Mid-century Antique
Mr. Burger,
I love those big Mopars! I especially like that plain-Jane Plymouth. I've been drawn to the "poverty line" cars since I got my first ride, this stripped down '58 Edsel. It took lots of abuse from me, got stuck in the mud once but has never broke down. It's still a good cruiser and has far better visibility and a better ride than any new car.
Great Grandpa had a rambler when my Father was young, traded in a red Edsel for it. He hated the Edsel because it was so big. I'm sure the red and black Rambler was much sportier looking than his brown one!
I love those big Mopars! I especially like that plain-Jane Plymouth. I've been drawn to the "poverty line" cars since I got my first ride, this stripped down '58 Edsel. It took lots of abuse from me, got stuck in the mud once but has never broke down. It's still a good cruiser and has far better visibility and a better ride than any new car.
Great Grandpa had a rambler when my Father was young, traded in a red Edsel for it. He hated the Edsel because it was so big. I'm sure the red and black Rambler was much sportier looking than his brown one!
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- Posts: 2260
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
- First Name: Brent
- Last Name: Burger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
- Location: Spokane, Wa.
- Board Member Since: 2014
Re: Mid-century Antique
Thanks. Years ago I was big in to 58-59-60 Buicks. Ray's Auto Wrecking
had a 60 invicta with a flawless turquiose interior in it. The car sat under
4 other cars, and getting that interior out of the car was a serious challenge.
Next to it sat a near identical stripper 58 Plymouth to the one I own today.
As I made trip after trip in and out to remove that Buick interior, that Plymouth
caught my fancy. It was so "Grandma Pittipoo" cute, in its Buzzard Puke monotone
paint and total lack of options. It took me 30 years to find an example like it !
Like that one under the stack of cars at Ray's, mine is also Buzzard Puke Green,
with no accent color, has body color wheels (not seen in the photo), dog dish
wheelcovers, and blackwall tires. Also not present are exterior mirrors and
radio/antenna. So, externally, the cars are nearly identical. But the buyer
my car, while going lean on looks-related options, spent large in driver comfort
add-ons, ticking boxes for the 318 4bbl V-8, Torqueflite automatic, power steering
and brakes, and air conditioning ! Oh yeah, and the deluxe fabric interior ....
Abandoned behind a furniture store in Parker, Arizona in 1963. It has only 13K
miles on the clock, but required replacement of everything soft, as the sun had
baked the poor car to death.
had a 60 invicta with a flawless turquiose interior in it. The car sat under
4 other cars, and getting that interior out of the car was a serious challenge.
Next to it sat a near identical stripper 58 Plymouth to the one I own today.
As I made trip after trip in and out to remove that Buick interior, that Plymouth
caught my fancy. It was so "Grandma Pittipoo" cute, in its Buzzard Puke monotone
paint and total lack of options. It took me 30 years to find an example like it !
Like that one under the stack of cars at Ray's, mine is also Buzzard Puke Green,
with no accent color, has body color wheels (not seen in the photo), dog dish
wheelcovers, and blackwall tires. Also not present are exterior mirrors and
radio/antenna. So, externally, the cars are nearly identical. But the buyer
my car, while going lean on looks-related options, spent large in driver comfort
add-ons, ticking boxes for the 318 4bbl V-8, Torqueflite automatic, power steering
and brakes, and air conditioning ! Oh yeah, and the deluxe fabric interior ....
Abandoned behind a furniture store in Parker, Arizona in 1963. It has only 13K
miles on the clock, but required replacement of everything soft, as the sun had
baked the poor car to death.
More people are doing it today than ever before !
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Topic author - Posts: 6443
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Mid-century Antique
I had a $25.00 1959 Buick 2 door hardtop. It had an Earl Schieb faded blue paint over red and white two tone. It ran great, and its dramatic styling and lavish chrome made up for the sad looking paint job.
It had a scratched and cracked windshield. Somehow, I manged to acquire a better windshield and install it in the car singlehanded.
It had a scratched and cracked windshield. Somehow, I manged to acquire a better windshield and install it in the car singlehanded.
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- Posts: 2260
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
- First Name: Brent
- Last Name: Burger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
- Location: Spokane, Wa.
- Board Member Since: 2014
Re: Mid-century Antique
59 Buicks were quite "dramatic".
More people are doing it today than ever before !