Saturday, June 14, 2025
in the swap meet at the LA Roadsters show today, at the Pomona Fairplex, I came across 3 full sets of Hot Rod magazine... this booth had one on hand, plus some other cool stuff! The (ASKING) going rate for a complete set is 1k. No one I talked to had a buyer yet
I was stuck in rush hour traffic again yesterday after work, and like usual, looked around at the tires on the cars around me... this guy was in front of me.
But I post this so you all don't forget, that there are some unsafe cars on the road. It's not JUST the drivers, and the ladders and junk on the roads themselves.
The Cars guitarist, Elliott Easton, shared a Flintstones-themed version of the band’s 1979 Candy-O album, on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYPU5Whuyij/?hl=en via https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/cars-guitarist-elliott-easton-shares-spoof-of-iconic-album-cover-candyo
notice that the names of the guys in the band were renamed in the Flintstones theme Roc Ocasek, Benjamin Ore, David Rubbleson, Elliot Eastrock, and Slag Hawkes
Cars drummer David Robinson spoke about the photoshoot and cover artwork in a 2020 interview, where he noted that he came up with the idea to do a “pinup thing” and sought out Vargas.
“I spent a day with him and he said he would do it,” Robinson recalled. “We went to a Ferrari dealership, and I can't believe they let [the model] get on the car… it was like on the hood of the car, and we moved her all around as we took pictures.”
and here's some crazy trivia... you know the cover of that album, Candy O?
I didn't know that the model, was one I was familiar with from the Pro Trac Racing Profile wheels (which I bought a pair of N 50s in 1990 and put on my 71 Challenger, and 88 Dakota) advert was the same woman!
And I posted this in the "automotive parts advertising used sex to sell car parts" part 5 post way back in 2009 (if you haven't seen those 1960s and 70s ads you're going to get a kick out of them - https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/07/when-automotive-parts-advertising-used.html
More family tree research has crazy coincidences to posts I've made about the Gen Pershing retaliation on Pancho Villa raid... AND my recent post about my relative that Schofield Barracks was named for... I present, the brief history of Wheeler Air Force base, Pearl Harbor Hawaii
Major Wheeler had become well known for his daring reconnaissance and scouting flights in support of General Pershing's operations near the Mexican Border looking for Pancho Villa.
While Major Wheeler, former commander of Luke Field on Ford Island, was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, he and his sergeant died in a plane crash on July 13, 1921.
Wheeler Air Force Base, which is located on the island of Oahu, sharing the East fence of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Naval Base is named after Major Wheeler.... who was the commander of the Luke Field, on Ford Island, that was bombed during the attack by the Japanese on Dec 7, 1941.
Ford Island is the island in Pearl Harbor that the battleships were moored at. I was stationed at Pearl Harbor Subbase on the SSN 717, from 1991-1995, Sub Squadron 1.
Wheeler Air Force base was the site of several major historic aviation events, including the first nonstop Mainland-to-Hawaii flight by Army Air Corps Lieutenants Lester J. Maitland and Albert F. Hegenberger in 1927; the Great Dole Derby air race from California to Hawaii, also in 1927; the first trans-Pacific flight from the Untied States to Australia by Australian Squadron Leader Charles E. Kingsford-Smith in 1928; and the first Hawaii-to-Mainland solo flight in 1935 by Amerlia Earhart, who flew from Wheeler Field to Oakland, California.
https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Amelia%20Earhart
and I didn't make a post about it, but I'm distantly related to the Schofield that Schofield Barracks is named for, he was the Sec Of War, late 1880s-ish, and Commander of the Army, and he prompted the president to lay claim to Pearl Harbor as a defensive forward operating base in the Pacific. Schofield Barracks had one of these trains https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-norgrove-railway-outside-of-arroyo.html
Friday, June 13, 2025
From now on, Le Mans Classic will take place every year, alternating between two complementary formats:
Le Mans Classic Heritage: a classic event dedicated to the golden age of endurance racing, to honour history and pass on the passion.
Le Mans Classic Legend: a more contemporary edition celebrating the recent history of Le Mans, to relive the great hours that made enthusiasts dream
Le Mans Classic Legend: a more contemporary edition celebrating the recent history of Le Mans, to relive the great hours that made enthusiasts dream
Thursday, June 12, 2025
in New Jersey in 1901, the Detroit Photographic Special being pulled by a Delaware, Lackawanna & Western locomotive, was William Henry Jackson's traveling photographic studio-salon rail car
Checker cars post
The above was all I had, and I wondered about the taxi, but Steve knew!
Not a good looking front, unique, but not good. The fenders and rear quarters are bad also. I knew I'd posted one years ago http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/06/before-big-boxy-taxi-checker-made-model.html
With the flip of a switch, the electrically operated top goes into the trunk
This is the landaulet version of the Checker Model A, which was built from 1939 until Checker switched to war production in 1941. The back top was electrically operated and disappeared into the body. It also had a sun roof. During the war, Checker donated the body dies to be melted down and recycled for the war effort.
This is thought to be the only remaining survivor from the 1939-1941 Model A Checker taxi. Photos were taken at the Checker Car Club of America show in 2002 at the Gilmore Museum
A handful of unusual-looking snouts appeared on American vehicles during the late thirties but none matched the monstrosity that premiered on the 1939 Checker Model A. The equally bizarre Sharknose Graham is the only other vehicle that could hold a candle to the Model A.
Checker designer John H. Tuttle is credited with designing the Model A’s bodywork from the cowl back, but the identity of the person who designed the front end is the subject of much debate. Ray Dietrich served as a consultant to the firm starting in the late 30s, however he emphatically denied any involvement with the firm’s taxi designs rig up until his death.
Tuttle’s name also appears on the patents for the cars optional rear landaulet roof, and it’s probable that he also worked on the front end, however it’s entirely possible a third designer, perhaps even Morris Markin himself, designed the front end, whose main claim to fame was that it is so ugly, you could see it coming from up to half-a-mile away.
The headlights were modern oval units mounted to the front fenders in the typical fashion, however those beams were surrounded by massive chrome-plated art-moderne shields unlike any seen on any other vehicle. Body colored louvered valances provided cooling to the radiator which was hidden behind the solid beak that extender downwards from the center of the hood.
The short wheelbase Model A included a purpose-built 124-inch wheelbase chassis with a traditional solid front and live rear axles supported by longitudinal leaf springs. The independent front suspensions found on other manufacturer’s vehicles were easily knocked out of alignment and were far too fragile for taxicab use.
The Model A included a number of more practical innovations such as an automatic signal that alerted pedestrians when the cab was put into reverse, padded finger guards on the rear door edges and rear seats that were stuffed with synthetic rubber cushions.
The Model A was introduced mid-year and was powered by a Continental Red Seal Six, an engine that would become standard equipment until 1965 when the firm adopted a General Motors powerplant. The John H. Tuttle-designed sunroof and landaulet rear top were optionally available on either of the two available wheelbases.
A period review called the Model A:
"...the most radical innovation of the entire taxicab industry this year. Checker's disappearing top is attracting widespread attention in the larger cities where its Parmelee system fleets operate.... The all-metal landaulet can be opened or closed by the driver in 40 seconds, without moving from his seat...the cab is equipped with a glass roof that can be readily opened or closed by the driver at the will of his fare."
The model A was the last prewar Checker taxicab, and only a single survivor, a long-wheelbase model equipped with the landaulet roof, exists. At the start of the war Markin donated the Model A’s body dies to melted down for the war effort.
Info from and read all about the Check taxi cab manufacturer here http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/c/checker/checker.htm
If you've been looking forward to looking through railroad lanterns, and other steam locomotive era train stuff, to buy for a fathers day gift... you're going to like this auction (I'd like that Seth Thomas No. 2 Railroad regulator myself!)
there must be a 180 lanterns, a there are railroad luggage racks, oilers, office chairs, spittoons, passes, time tables, locks, stock certificates, photos, and so many other things.
These old ashtrays are the coolest!
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/Category/All_Items-1.html July 16 - 17, 2025
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)