Do any of us own a classic car...older than 30yrs of age?
- Thread starter ronhic
- Start date
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whirlaway
New member
Imperials
My 64 Imperial is still a daily driver 324,000 miles on it no overhaul on the engine or tranny and the ac still works.She has been a good one.
My 64 Imperial is still a daily driver 324,000 miles on it no overhaul on the engine or tranny and the ac still works.She has been a good one.
twintubdexter
Well-known member
What terrific photos !
Some of you guys really have wonderful cars. I would kill to own that beautiful 1961 Olsmobile, same for that 73' convertible. The Imperial with it's "gunsight taillights" really makes a statement. The two-toning on the Cadillac sure looks nice, and the Lincoln Mark VIII reminds me of how much I loved full-sized luxury coupes.
I belong to a cool car club called Great Autos of Yesteryear (GAY). If you're not familiar with them check it out at www.GreatAutos.org. You don't need to own a classic auto, just have an interest.
About 5 years ago I bought this little T-Bird from a neighbor who has since passed away. He bought the car new in 1957. Apparently since my purchase, the seat and the steering wheel have moved closer together. When I breath in the wheel now touches my stomach.
http://www.greatautos.org
Some of you guys really have wonderful cars. I would kill to own that beautiful 1961 Olsmobile, same for that 73' convertible. The Imperial with it's "gunsight taillights" really makes a statement. The two-toning on the Cadillac sure looks nice, and the Lincoln Mark VIII reminds me of how much I loved full-sized luxury coupes.
I belong to a cool car club called Great Autos of Yesteryear (GAY). If you're not familiar with them check it out at www.GreatAutos.org. You don't need to own a classic auto, just have an interest.
About 5 years ago I bought this little T-Bird from a neighbor who has since passed away. He bought the car new in 1957. Apparently since my purchase, the seat and the steering wheel have moved closer together. When I breath in the wheel now touches my stomach.
http://www.greatautos.org
twintubdexter
Well-known member
petite tail
I was lucky to get the plates.
I was lucky to get the plates.
ronhic
Well-known member
I'm not normally a fan of American cars...but some that have been shown here are just lovely....
...especially that T-Bird...
...especially that T-Bird...
little-edie
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Messages
- 83
twin tub dexter...
your car is gorgeous! and you bought it from the original owner! how lucky was that?
your car is gorgeous! and you bought it from the original owner! how lucky was that?
spankomatic
Well-known member
Something fun for this thread...
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abcomatic
Well-known member
I have a 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark 4. She will pass almost anything on the highway except the gas station! lol
Wow!
You guys have some awesome cars! I would love to take a spin in everyone of them!
I am blown away that your cars look so great!
What heritage!
How in the world do you keep your vintage machines and your vintage cars?
I can barley keep up my vintage self!!!!
Thanks for the pictures everyone! Great Thread!
Brent
You guys have some awesome cars! I would love to take a spin in everyone of them!
I am blown away that your cars look so great!
What heritage!
How in the world do you keep your vintage machines and your vintage cars?
I can barley keep up my vintage self!!!!
Thanks for the pictures everyone! Great Thread!
Brent
A pic taken immediately after awakening from a 25 year nap. You can see where I polished that annoying haze that came over ALL of the windows from sitting outside its whole life. It took 8 hours to completely remove that haze from the front windshield alone!
In the back, you'll see the beginning of my parts collection for a future restoration (photo taken in 2003). There are now parts up to the headliner throughout the entire car. Just barely enough space on the drivers side to fit my scrawny 145 pound ass in the drivers seat in case the car needs to be moved.
In the back, you'll see the beginning of my parts collection for a future restoration (photo taken in 2003). There are now parts up to the headliner throughout the entire car. Just barely enough space on the drivers side to fit my scrawny 145 pound ass in the drivers seat in case the car needs to be moved.
Today
This is how she looks today, except the fenders are removed. Somehow I went from $2.00 worth of vavle seal replacements (burning a wee bit of oil) to a frame off restoration. Well, us car guys know how that goes
Frame and body get separated next week. That ought to be an interesting experience!!
This is how she looks today, except the fenders are removed. Somehow I went from $2.00 worth of vavle seal replacements (burning a wee bit of oil) to a frame off restoration. Well, us car guys know how that goes
Frame and body get separated next week. That ought to be an interesting experience!!
Lots of great cars here.
Dan, that is a HUGE task you have there. When I was a kid, family friends drove up in a brand new metallic aqua '59 Bonneville and that thing looked like the longest car ever built, even next to our '57 Lincoln.
Nick, that's a beautiful Imperial. I really like the early 60's models with the square steering wheel.
We shed two of our classic vehicles before we moved last year: a '64 Lincoln convertible and a '69 Continental Mark III. The only one we kept was the '50 GMC 100 that my dad bought after Pacific Telephone retired it. It's all original and needs everything cosmetic but will start right up and did a lot of work for us at the old house, helped us move into this current house, and is continuing to do hauling. I like driving it because, as I've stated before, it's the best man magnet on wheels. I don't have a pic on this computer but maybe I can find one to post here before this thread drops down too far.
Ralph
Dan, that is a HUGE task you have there. When I was a kid, family friends drove up in a brand new metallic aqua '59 Bonneville and that thing looked like the longest car ever built, even next to our '57 Lincoln.
Nick, that's a beautiful Imperial. I really like the early 60's models with the square steering wheel.
We shed two of our classic vehicles before we moved last year: a '64 Lincoln convertible and a '69 Continental Mark III. The only one we kept was the '50 GMC 100 that my dad bought after Pacific Telephone retired it. It's all original and needs everything cosmetic but will start right up and did a lot of work for us at the old house, helped us move into this current house, and is continuing to do hauling. I like driving it because, as I've stated before, it's the best man magnet on wheels. I don't have a pic on this computer but maybe I can find one to post here before this thread drops down too far.
Ralph
dnastrau
Well-known member
Everyone's cars are beautiful; Rickr's Olds - Roto H
Greetings:
I love everyone's cars here! I guess I shouldn't be suprised that so many love classic cars with everyone's interest in vintage appliances. Too bad that so many of today's cars don't have much style or character, IMHO.
To rickr: Beautiful Cad and Olds! How is the Roto Hydramatic trans in the '61 Super 88 doing? I am curious as apparently those don't have the best reputation - which is a real shame as the 394 SkyRocket V8 is built like a brick outhouse and will pull one down as well!
We have a '60 Beetle that I never have the time to work on. Some day...
Keep the oldies rolling!
Andrew S.
Greetings:
I love everyone's cars here! I guess I shouldn't be suprised that so many love classic cars with everyone's interest in vintage appliances. Too bad that so many of today's cars don't have much style or character, IMHO.
To rickr: Beautiful Cad and Olds! How is the Roto Hydramatic trans in the '61 Super 88 doing? I am curious as apparently those don't have the best reputation - which is a real shame as the 394 SkyRocket V8 is built like a brick outhouse and will pull one down as well!
We have a '60 Beetle that I never have the time to work on. Some day...
Keep the oldies rolling!
Andrew S.
58limited
Well-known member
Well, I decided to post a few pics of the cars I listed above. First up is my '53 Chevy 3100 pickup. It is a retired farm truck, not a restoration, meaning we left all of the dents in the bed rather than replacing everything with new stuff when it was painted. Gives it more character.
58limited
Well-known member
1958 Buick Limited. It needs a paint job, I've been hiding the surface rust for years but I'm losing the battle.
58limited
Well-known member
1957 Pontiac Safari Transcontinental Wagon. One of 1894 built, introduced midway through the model year with the Bonneville fuel-injected convertible. It has the same style ribbed aluminum rear quarter trim as the Bonneville. It runs but needs a full restoration. I have most of the parts including the ultra-rare correct 1957 Pontiac autronic eye.
58limited
Well-known member
1977 Lincoln Continental convertible
These were not factory cars (last factory cvt was made in 1967). These were ordered through the dealership and sent to a coach builder for conversion, just like a limo. They used left over 1972 Ford LTD convertible top mechanisms to build these. The conversion cost was about $12,000 to $15,000, thereby doubling the price of the car during a time of incredible inflation and economic malaise (no, I didn't pay anywhere near that price for this car).
These were not factory cars (last factory cvt was made in 1967). These were ordered through the dealership and sent to a coach builder for conversion, just like a limo. They used left over 1972 Ford LTD convertible top mechanisms to build these. The conversion cost was about $12,000 to $15,000, thereby doubling the price of the car during a time of incredible inflation and economic malaise (no, I didn't pay anywhere near that price for this car).
58limited
Well-known member
Rickr, I love the Olds and Caddy.
NickD, That Imperial is awesome. I want to get one someday.
TwinTubDexter, that T-Bird is great. How wonderful that you got it from the original owner.
NickD, That Imperial is awesome. I want to get one someday.
TwinTubDexter, that T-Bird is great. How wonderful that you got it from the original owner.
Slim Jim transmitions
Great looking vintage cars guys! Thanks for the comments about the Olds and Caddy.
The transmition in the Olds is a Roto-Hydramatic, or "Slim Jim" as they were called by the transmition shops back in the day. My trans was rebuilt in the late 1970's. Some of the original "hard parts" were replaced with updated parts at that time. The transmition operates perfectly, and I serviced it with new filter kit and fluid a few years back. I hope not to have any trouble with the transmition, and doubt if I will as it is only driven a few hundred miles per year.
http://testserver.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Roto_Hydramatic
Great looking vintage cars guys! Thanks for the comments about the Olds and Caddy.
The transmition in the Olds is a Roto-Hydramatic, or "Slim Jim" as they were called by the transmition shops back in the day. My trans was rebuilt in the late 1970's. Some of the original "hard parts" were replaced with updated parts at that time. The transmition operates perfectly, and I serviced it with new filter kit and fluid a few years back. I hope not to have any trouble with the transmition, and doubt if I will as it is only driven a few hundred miles per year.
http://testserver.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Roto_Hydramatic
frontaloadotmy
Well-known member
David
Of course the '58 is one of my all time favorite Buicks,
but I love the Safari, too.
I remember my Mothers best friend and her husband
trading up from a Red 1955 Pontiac Convertible to a
1957 all Black Convertible. It must have been the
Bonneville . I don't know if it was fuel injected, but it was
beautiful. I remember how exciting it was when he adjusted the
power seat, I was only five. I can't remember , does your
Limited have ac?
Of course the '58 is one of my all time favorite Buicks,
but I love the Safari, too.
I remember my Mothers best friend and her husband
trading up from a Red 1955 Pontiac Convertible to a
1957 all Black Convertible. It must have been the
Bonneville . I don't know if it was fuel injected, but it was
beautiful. I remember how exciting it was when he adjusted the
power seat, I was only five. I can't remember , does your
Limited have ac?
58limited
Well-known member
Darrel,
The Limited has A/C and all other factory options.
The '57 Bonneville was only available with fuel injection. There were only about 609 made (unsure if that # is exactly correct but it is close) - one for each dealership in America.
The Bonneville became more of a regular model line in 1958.
The Limited has A/C and all other factory options.
The '57 Bonneville was only available with fuel injection. There were only about 609 made (unsure if that # is exactly correct but it is close) - one for each dealership in America.
The Bonneville became more of a regular model line in 1958.
ronhic
Well-known member
WOW....
Guys there are some really fantastic cars on show here....shame I can't get the Morris over to the US for a run....
...it'd be like Samson and the Goliaths...
Guys there are some really fantastic cars on show here....shame I can't get the Morris over to the US for a run....
...it'd be like Samson and the Goliaths...
Cool link, Rick . . .
This explains something a friend of mine told me many years ago. He grew up here in the San Fernando Valley, and as a kid in the late '60s did some street racing. Drag racing automatics need a high-stall torque converter, which allows the engine to be brake-torqued at a high rpm - the driver basically puts one foot on the accerator and the other on the brake just before "launching" the car down the street or drag strip. This allows the engine to be in the proper rpm range to make good power. It's very rough on the torque converters, and a stock normally sized converter won't allow the engine to rev up enough anyway. Aftermarket companies make special "high-stall" torque converters which will allow this. My friend said the wealthier racers bought these, while the less wealthy went to the junkyard and found an Opel Kadett Automatic and snagged the torque converter. This must have been the Model 5 Roto-Hydramatic referenced. Because the bolt pattern was the same, the poor little Kadett torque convertor could be bolted onto a full-size GM Turbo-Hydramatic. With a 400-500 hp big block Chevy V8 up front, the Kadett converter became an instant high stall unit - it had been designed for a 60 hp Opel four after all. My friend said they lasted longer than you'd think, but when one finally died and you cut it open, "those fins were totally flat!"
This explains something a friend of mine told me many years ago. He grew up here in the San Fernando Valley, and as a kid in the late '60s did some street racing. Drag racing automatics need a high-stall torque converter, which allows the engine to be brake-torqued at a high rpm - the driver basically puts one foot on the accerator and the other on the brake just before "launching" the car down the street or drag strip. This allows the engine to be in the proper rpm range to make good power. It's very rough on the torque converters, and a stock normally sized converter won't allow the engine to rev up enough anyway. Aftermarket companies make special "high-stall" torque converters which will allow this. My friend said the wealthier racers bought these, while the less wealthy went to the junkyard and found an Opel Kadett Automatic and snagged the torque converter. This must have been the Model 5 Roto-Hydramatic referenced. Because the bolt pattern was the same, the poor little Kadett torque convertor could be bolted onto a full-size GM Turbo-Hydramatic. With a 400-500 hp big block Chevy V8 up front, the Kadett converter became an instant high stall unit - it had been designed for a 60 hp Opel four after all. My friend said they lasted longer than you'd think, but when one finally died and you cut it open, "those fins were totally flat!"
