Show off yer Vintage thingy with wheels

glassparman

"OK, OK, I'm going as fast as I don't want to go!"
Starting this here. Too much talk about old vehicles so gotta give it some room!

Here is my '62 Ford Fairlane 500.
It currently has a 5.0 and 4 speed Tremec from an '83 Mustang. I did this drop in conversion back in 2002. It also has 11" discs on the front from a '78 Granada.
 

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Snakeoil

Well-Known Member
Nice car. There was a blue Fairland 500 convertible parked in the lot at a local bar/restaurant last night.

I have a slight problem with motorized wheels. I've learned to curb it with time and age, but still cannot fully shake the habit. Here is my first entry.

1947 Harley EL Knucklehead. Original Paint. Came with family album of the bike back when it was new. Pics of the bike at Laconia in '48 and '49.
Including two pics here. First is the bike with the original owner and his girlfriend in 1948. She later became his wife. Second pic is the same pose, only with his daughter and her husband after I brought the bike back to life. I got it with a blown engine. Otherwise, it stayed untouched under a tarp for over 50 years.

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JonB

Halcyon member
I've had lot's of cars/trucks/bikes over the years (starting in 1979) ....like 40 or so Autos and a dozen or so Bikes.
MOST weren't collectable, but many were surely unique. I always liked unique cars.
There are some I don't have photos, but wish I did.
These three are notable favorites.

While the 1967 CA160 Honda Dream wasn't mint, it was original and so fun to drive around town. No tube frame, just formed sheetmetal, like a uni-body.

I put many many miles on the 1987 Honda Magna 700, several trips out to west coast, and a couple to the U.P. of MI. and Detroit. and many trips to Duluth and Superior North shore. I drove it for 10 years, then sold it to a friend, then bought it back 3 years later and drove it another 7 years. That V-4 magna engine is one of the smoothest, and yet high revving motorcycle engines, I ever drove. It red lined at 10.5 but I took it to 11.0 many times, it just wanted to be revved high.

The rustfree, never driven in the winter/salt, 1990 Dodge Dakota convertible sure would turn heads, but it has the gutless inline 6cyl with auto trans, sure wish it had a manual trans.

1967 honda Dream and Dodge Dakota 1Kpx.jpg1987 Magna 1Kpx.jpg

1990 Dodge dakota Glencoe 550px.jpg

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ANother notable, but No picture of the one I had :(
I had a 1971 Moto-Guzzi Ambassador 750 V-twin.
It drove like a tractor, but I loved that thing. It didn't like going over 45 mph.
Also, when accelerating through a deep corner, that V-twin could pull you down :oops:
*Photo from retrotours dotcom
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Winelover

North Central Arkansas
My first and last car. Bought new in 1972 when I started working for GM. Originally, I was going to purchase a RS Camaro until I popped the trunk. With the full size spare (F-60 15" rally wheel) there was barely enough room for a brown paper bag full of groceries. I was an avid fisherman and had to transport a 20 HP Mercury outboard and a six gallon tank for gas. Hence, the last minute decision to order the Chevelle. Switched over to full size vans and never bought another car.

Chevelle 72 picture.jpg

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Had the GM Technical Center photographers take this picture, using same pose, with my camera. GM had a yearly employee car show with over 750 entries. They contacted me to set a photo shoot after the show. I have a few of their photos framed in the basement.

Pretty much all original, except for dual SS exhausts and the recent Edelbrock carb and air cleaner.

License plate depicts the year (72), model (SS) engine size (350 cu in)

53,350 original miles on the odometer, as of yesterday.

I used Reliable Carriers Inc, the same transport company that GM uses for their show cars to get it from Michigan to Arkansas. Cindy drove one of our full size van, while I drove the other.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I rebuilt this in my senior Year of HS.
Its a 1965 Honda 150twin.

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Long gone, today I dont even remember selling. Not really classic younger then I am, but oldest "vehicle I have owned.

CW
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
The fall I turned 16, I bought a '41 Plymouth Special Deluxe that was 7 years older than me. Gave $25 for it and spent another $25 for tune-parts and plywood to put over the rusted out floorboards. I'd been driving the farm trucks since I was 14, but this one I could drive and not have to claim to be doing "farm chores" to drive into town.

I still have the original Ohio title for the car, but no pictures, so I stole this picture off the net. By spring I had earned enough money to buy a modern car, a 1956 Buick 4 door HT Riviera.
1941 plymouth.jpg
 

Snakeoil

Well-Known Member
Lots of good stuff here. I have the CB160 the sportier version of you CA, Jon. I also owned an identical Ambassador. It was a former LAPD bike. I loved that bike. And my experience was 180 from yours. Bike wanted to go and taking it thru the twisties was like being on rails. Sold it to a friend and he still has it. But he's let it deteriorate, pretty much like everything he has. He's a hoarder, not a collector.

CW, that little 150 is truly a classic. It was the entry period for Honda and it is one of the bikes that turned my generation onto motorcycles.

Here are a few more from that sale era.

My CB 160. Spent most of its life in a dry basement, properly stored with the tank oil misted. Guy I worked with had it and called me one day to see if I wanted it. I did not even ask the price. Just said yes. All original. Mufflers were shot. But a friend had a solid pair that needed new chrome. Got that done and she was ready for the road. The CB160 and the bigger brother the CB77 or 305 Superhawk were about as close to a factory roadracer that you could buy at the time. That little 160 is one of the sweetest bikes to take down a winding road. The TLS front brake is so good that I have to make a deliberate mental note or at slower speeds I can lose the front end with too much pressure on the brake lever. Can't say that about many mechanical drum brake. Honda knew what they were doing.

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There there is the little brother, a '67 S90. I bought this to do Motogiros and flogged the daylights out of it for 300 miles over two days at my first giro. It never skipped a beat. Got it off ebay. It belonged to the son of the owner of Chillicothe Honda, now out of business. They were still in business at the time and were clearing out their display bikes to make room for a Harley dealership they had taken on. Guess it did not work out.

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Lastly, the bigger brother of those two, my CL77 aka 305 Scrambler. Rode this Honda on Saturday for a 1 day giro type event over in Grafton, NY. Runs like a raped ape.
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These are all actual pics of my bikes. They are all still with me.
 
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Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Bit of Chevelle history based on my experience. Last of the desirable body styles was in 1972. Chevrolet offered that body style for three years, beginning in 1970. The first year is the most desirable because in 71 they detuned the engines as a result of the oil embargo. In 1973 GM design went boxy...........the top of the line was the hideous Laguna S3.

The 1970 Chevelle SS came with the iconic 396 engine. The rear bumper had a single square tail light, dual headlights in the front. In 1971 and 72 the taillights were round and numbered three. Headlights were singular. To differentiate between the 71 and 72 models, there was a subtle difference in the front parking light...........71 was split, 72 wasn't.

In 71 & 72 there were more V-8 engine choices...........307, two 350's (two barrel or four) small block 400 and a large block 454. Cowl induction was only offered on the big block. The bigger the cubic inches the more desirable............of course your insurance suffered accordingly. The SS option in 1972 was $350 (I kept the original order form/bill of sale). That option came with five white letter F-60 Goodyear Poly glass tires on 15" steel five spoke rally wheels, front disc brakes, rear sway bar, raised hood and all the SS badging. Best $350 I ever spent.

In 71 & 72 Chevy also offered the Heavy Chevy option which was a poor man's version of the SS option. Came with the raised hood. There was wide stripe down the length of both sides with Heavy Chevy written in the widest portion on the rear quarter panel. As a result, there are many cloned SS in the marketplace, today. Easy to spot if you know what to look for. First are the smaller 14" wheels, no front disc brakes and no rear sway bar, under the rear differential. So buyer beware.

In early 1972, I ordered my first SS from Shore Chevrolet in Detroit, on the Hamtramck border. Was looking at 71 Chevelles at quite a few Detroit area Chevy dealers but no Super Sports were available. I negotiated a price of $3050 OTD...........tax and license plates included. Took delivery in early Fall. That one was built in Canada. In February, it was stolen and was a total loss. Insurance paid me off and gave me more than I paid. So I took the additional funds and reordered it with a 350 4-bbl, instead of the sluggish 350-2 bbl originally purchased. Just made it under the wire for the last of the desirable Chevelles. It's actually a 72 1/2 model. Front parking lights are amber verses two tone amber and white the first one had. This one was made in Kansas City................I have the build sheet in my posession.
 

Rockydoc

Well-Known Member
Here is my last motorcycle. It is a 2005 Harley-Davidson Road King.

DCP_1238.jpgI can't find any photos my many other bikes. My first was a Ariel Square Four from the early 1950's.

I traded the Road King in on the purchase of a used 40 foot American Eagle diesel pusher motorhome.

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Here is my hunting vehicle, a modified Yamaha golf cart.
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Snakeoil

Well-Known Member
Had a kid in my fraternity house in college with an SS 396 Chevelle. It had an M22 Rock Crusher and all you could hear when going down the road was that tranny whining. Car was a beast. Don't remember the exact year. Probably more like a '67 or '68. Another friend ordered a '70 350 Nova. Plain jane car with bench seat and hubcabs. But the motor was one of the optional motors and a 4sp on the floor. Another beast of a car. Kid I went to high school with always had jobs after school and always had great rides. Went thru quite a few bikes and then got a Plymouth GTX. 440 Super Commando engine and auto trans. Car got close to zero mpg. But man would that thing fly. Another kid I was an apprentice with drives into work one day with a Super Bird with clothes rack rear spoiler and unique nose piece. It was orange and somebody had painted flames on the side. Last I knew, he still had the car.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Friend from grade schools mother had a beige 1970 GTX 440..............her other son got a ticket for doing 140 mph. Car was eventually stolen, painted black and driven until it was recovered three years later. Perp was from Highland Park...........great neighborhood.
 

Snakeoil

Well-Known Member
Amazing how any of us survived driving or riding around in those cars. They did not handle other than in a straight line and had gobs of power.

On one of the days I was taking Regents exams, we broke for lunch and I took a walk down to the local general store to get an ice cream before going back to take another Regents in the afternoon. A kid that graduated the year before came flying down the road in his Road Runner, lost control and slammed into a huge tree in front of a house. The engine was torn out of the car and cleaned the front porch off the house next door. It had happened while I was taking that Regents. We walked down and Marty was still in the car, but they had thrown a tarp over it because the scene was pretty grizzly.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Bondo anyone?
OK. no pics. 54 austin healey 100. Rebuilt motor but left in San Fran when I ran out of $. 65 ford falcon 200 six 4 door I got yr before getting married. Bought for 600 and got 900 on trade for 69 torino so I had a working car for me & her. Nothing fancy at all. Few bikes, last was gs450 suzuki. I thought about that 750 v4 Honda put out but couldn't reach the ground with feet.
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
I stored a friend of a friend's Road Runner while he was in an advanced infantry training course, at Ft. Ord. One day I drove it on a downtown errand. Going round a 45 mph sweeping righthand curve I suddenly had to hit the brakes. The car shuddered and rattled and slew about the lane with me sawing the steering wheel from one side to the other. Disaster was averted, but that rolling death trap stayed parked till the guy drove it away.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
All of the light weight full size Chrysler cars of the late '60's were hard to set up to steer and brake. When you ordered a RR, you only got sedan brakes and sway bars and shocks. Unless you also checked the box for "Police Interceptor" suspension, you got a death trap.
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
In other posts I've mentioned my first car -- a $100 '56 Plymouth -- the two MG Midgets, and the 240 Z and 260 Z.
Here's a picture of the 260 Z taken in '89 or '90. If you are familiar with the various Zs, this was of very early '73 production and more of a 240 than than 260. Pretty much, Datsun took a 240 and dropped in the update 260 engine. I bought it used in '86, and it was stock save the wheels and the funky sunroof. I beefed up and lowered the suspension, installed a cam with some since forgotten added performance, headers, Recaro-type seats, hood vents and an electric fan (notorious hot running cars), Cibie(?) flat-faced 55-Watt H-4 halogen headlights, updated the funky sunroof and sound system, added some other disremembered stuff, and had an auto body shop owner friend do the dam and spoiler, remove the side marker lights, and paint it Porsche Guards Red. As an aid to increased high speed performance and anti-vibrationess, the side mirrors were the same brand as Ferrari was using on their Formula One cars.

Oh, yeah, the previous owner was smart and kind enough to remove and throw away the original Hitachi down draught carburetors and replace them with the much more efficient, albeit illegal in California, SU down draughts. I had to remove the headers prior to the bi-annual smog checks and install the original exhaust manifold, and do some fast talking when the smog guys spied the SUs. Then do the manifold/headers switch-a-roo.

Sometime in '99 I sold the car to a co-worker and he drove it to Washington State, when he moved there a few days later.
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