Back to the 50s Car Show!

[hooverwheelaway]

So, I heard on the radio Friday morning, on my way to work, that there was a car show happening at the State Fair Grounds this weekend. I had also recalled Robert mentioning a huge car show that happened sometime in June, usually the same weekend as Pride... so he's usually not able to go. Well, pride wasn't this weekend... So we went to the car show yesterday. Got there about 2pm, and were told that it was over. They still let us in the park; and we were able to walk around for about two hours -- as everyone was starting to pack up and leave. We saw some incredible cars, just dripping with chrome. I took too many pictures to post here, in this thread... so I'll post a few and then feel free to follow the link to my website with the rest of the photos. I do love old cars, but have no idea what years/models of most of the pictures I took. The GM Futurliner was incredible to see up close, they even let us go up and sit in the driver's seat. I got in trouble and had to go back in a second time... I totally missed the huge Frigidaire medallion the first time I went in (for the Air conditioning)... so I went back in a second time and took a picture of it.

Enjoy![this post was last edited: 6/21/2010-12:51]

http://web.me.com/fredstachnik/Freds_Pictures!/Car_Show!.html

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Of course I thought I had the whole thing in the frame...

Oh well, there's always next year.

 

[hooverwheelaway]

This one's for you, Ron J...!

 

[hooverwheelaway]

There's nothing like it...

 

[hooverwheelaway]

I had to contain myself.. and not start squealing and jumping up and down when I saw this driving towards us. Vintage VWs are my super duper favorite! Gorgeous 1957.. in flawless condition.

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Complete with Push-Button transmission!

 

[58limited]

The Futurliner is awesome! There are only a few out of the original 12 left. Is that the same one that sold for $4 million at Barrett-Jackson?

 

[circlew]

That Chrysler looks like one of Ward Cleaver's cars on LITB. Is it a '60?

 

[swestoyz]

Oh my guys - looks like you were in car heaven! I've heard rumors of the goodies displayed at the Back to the 50's show. I'll need to get up there next year.

The GM Futureliner looks AWESOME.

Ben

 

[countryguy]

If you like the old VW Beetles then take a trip to Puerto Vallarta sometime. There are loads of them everywhere you look.

Gary

 

[gansky1]

How fun! It's too bad they don't have this on Pride weekend.

Great pics, as always, Fred!

 

[tlee618]

Thanks for sharing the neat pictures Fred! I bet that you guys had a great time!

 

[norgeway]

Chrysler!

That is a 62,notoriously known as the Plucked Chicken! because that is the same basic car as the 61 minus the fins!!!One of my all time favorites!!

 

[countryford]

Awesome

I used to go to that show all the time with my dad. Wish I still lived in Minnesota to be able to go. Oh well.
Great pics though. Glad you guys had a good time.

 

[dynaflow]

thx

Fred thank u for remembering me
ron

 

[MikeS]

The Plucked Chicken

I can go farther on the Chrysler in the photo: It's a '62 Newport four-door sedan. My parents bought the same model from a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer in 1965; it had the dome instrument panel, push-button TorqueFlite, and--get this--Airtemp factory-installed air conditioning, with the vents on top of the dashboard. It was a roomy and comfortable car that handled well; we went on several vacations with it. It was still going strong in 1969 when my parents decided we needed a new car. Mom wanted a Plymouth or a Dodge, but dad apparently put his foot down and we ended up with a new 1969 Chrysler Newport. That car was frankly a piece of crap; it went through two transmissions, the air conditioning failed; parts fell off (the window on the driver's front door kept falling out) and while it was roomy and comfy, it just wasn't the workhorse our '62 was. My father finally sold the Newport to a junkyard in 1975 after the transmission went out--again--on the day I graduated from high school. (I had to ride my bike to the ceremony; mom and dad weren't able to see me get my diploma.)
I miss that '62 plucked chicken.

 

[circlew]

So it's a '62 Newport, thanks Hans and Mike. I do recognize it as similar to Mr. Cleaver's car. Would have been the one in the last season or so, where in the opening credits the family is leaving on a picnic.

 

[norgeway]

And it had!!

The MOST FANTASTIC dashboard ever!!!,all the numbers letters and needles glowed with a then new technology called electroluminesense ,the signal light lever was mounted to the left of the wheel, ON THE DASH!!! along with the Torque Flite pushbuttons,another thing Chrysler excelled at was the power steering,if you have never driven full time power steering,you have never driven!!! one finger at all times will maintain perfect control!!parking is totally effortless,where a comparable GM or Ford needed 4 to 8 pounds of effort to turn the wheel,Chrysler products needed 8 OUNCES of pressure!!!

 

[qsd-dan]

another thing Chrysler excelled at was the power steering,if you have never driven full time power steering, you have never driven!!! one finger at all times will maintain perfect control!!parking is totally effortless,where a comparable GM or Ford needed 4 to 8 pounds of effort to turn the wheel,Chrysler products needed 8 OUNCES of pressure!!!

I thought the power steering in my old Chrysler was effortless until I drove my shop teachers '68 Cutlass. I don't know if he modified the steering gear or what , but it steered like the tires were in the air! Very weird feeling! The back end of that car had such a steep slope that it disappeared in the rear view mirror, making it very difficult to judge how close you were getting to objects while backing up. I don't know how he drove that car for 24 years!

 

[peteski50]

Car Show!

Thank you for creating this Great thread!
Peter

 

[joelippard]

Awesome!

Thanks for this Fred! The car's look great and so do you guys! I'd really love to have a vintage car someday to take to some of our local shows.

 

[bugsyjones]

That GM futurliner is pretty awesome. I would like to see it in person.

A note on Chrysler steering:

My friend in high school purchased a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere. This was around 2002 or so. The steering was as smooth as silk. I really wish todays steering was as effortless. My 2005 Grand Cherokee might as well have manual steering.

Now the brakes were not as easy to use on that Plymouth! I really had to plant my foot down on that pedal! I also noticed the transmission shifted very smoothly. It's too bad that he wrecked it and sold it to a salvage.

~Tim

 

[vintagesearch]

heaven on wheels are great vintage rides like these and many more!

 

[qsd-dan]

I really had to plant my foot down on that pedal!

I bet it had non-powered manual brakes. Chryslers power brake units were really touchy and didn't take much effort to lock up the tires. I remember when I nearly stuffed my buddy into the glove box of his '78 Labaron when I stomped on the brake pedal. I was so used to the manual brakes on my '73 Dart that I mindlessly used the same amount of pressure.

When you get accustomed to manual brakes, you'll quickly discover that it had the advantage of precise control over powered brakes. I could stop that 4500# beast on a dime without a minute tire screech. Used to have fun scaring the hell out of my friends/passengers. Ahhhhh, to be young again.

I really wish todays steering was as effortless.

It's nice around town, especially at lower speeds like parking, but it can get quickly get you into trouble at freeway speeds around tight corners if one happens to be inexperienced with the limitations of the vehicle. Since there's no feedback, you'll be going around a tight corner and seconds later lose total control.[this post was last edited: 6/22/2010-23:11]

 

[supersuds]

I agree. I don't like that Full Time power steering either. It's fun for parking but not so much for cornering. With the GM and Ford units (dubbed "you pull first" by some) you get decent feedback and they're still plenty light for parking; more so than most cars today.

My uncle had a '62 Newport. I always thought of it as the car with taillights pointing to the sky, which would make sense if you could see them in the photo. They wrapped around the top of the rear fender.