Our local Cars & Coffee event recently outgrew the venue they had been using, so our latest was held at a former car dealership that’s been purchased by a local gentleman to house his collection, which we’ll get to in a bit. The day dawned clear and cool, and with a throaty crackle and roar, I fired up the Chev SS Commodore SSV Redline and headed out to enjoy a bit of motorheading with friends. So grab a cuppa joe, and let’s start walking!
As with any drive-in car event, there was a wide range of eras represented, and things were particularly eclectic on this fine Saturday. I’ll apologize in advance to our younger readers, as I focused on early ’90s and older cars – newer stuff was well represented as well, of course. So let’s start with this careworn 1973 Mustang convertible in Light Blue, the last of the Mustang convertibles until 1983.
The urethane-covered front “spoiler-bumper” (as it was referred to when introduced in 1971) was extended out a bit for 1973 to meet US Federal crash standards and the grille on standard Mustangs received a refresh as well.
Out back, this last year for the first-gen Mustang platform had the rubber-tipped overrider bumper shifted out from the body a little farther, but otherwise remained fairly unchanged. The Mustang was fast encroaching on intermediate-sized proportions by this point, and 1974 would see the introduction of the Mustang II subcompact.
Moving on, it was actually the old-school slicks on this Deuce Coupe Victoria? that first caught my eye. “Deuce” referred to the 1932 model year, in which Ford introduced the Model B, powered by the Model A’s venerable four, as well as the Model 18, powered by Ford’s new flathead V8. Plentiful, worn out and cheap by the post WWII years, these were natural material for the budding hot rod movement.
I have yet to see any retractable-top car in a museum or at a show that wasn’t frozen in mid-retraction such as is this cherry 1965 Lincoln Continental. Peak Continental, if you ask me.
Here’s a ‘super’ clean 1962 Olds Super 88, the benefit of a 2nd-year facelift as well as a ‘skegectomy’ by personal order of Bill Mitchell. Just a nice, solid early ’60s GM.
Inside, Olds continued to use the names “Roto-matic Power Steering” and “Pedal-eeze Power Brakes” for those respective features (note the deeeeep dished steering wheel!). This car also features the ‘speed bar’ speedometer, which would revert back to a sweeping-needle-style speedometer for 1963.
As long as we’re looking at early ’60s GM iron, let’s take a moment to enjoy the amply-beskegged and be-finned fuselage of this jet-inspired 1961 Cadillac Deville Four Door Six Window Hardtop Sedan (whew!). This specimen looked fairly untouched (lots of patina inside and out).
And now for something completely different! Here’s a Groooovy 1968 AMX that’s in fine mettle.
Of particular interest is that it’s (still) powered by the ‘small’ 290/4-bbl engine, making 225hp.
…with a four-speed manual to back it. Dig the red/white/blue armrest, baby!
Here’s one of the rare 1969 Chargers that’s been overlooked by the Dukes of Hazzard tribute car crowd.
Purists may cringe at the Olds rallye wheels, but this was certainly one clean Corvair Corsa! The owner has owned several over the years and was quite knowledgable.
The cockpit is very business-like – I love that shifter!
Here’s another sharp American Motors product, this time a 1970 Javelin with a 390 for motivation. I’m really liking the color combination with the tan vinyl roof and dark green paint. Unfortunately, the vinyl was showing some heavy bubbling in spots.
This 1969 Pontiac Firebird looked like a work in progress, with lots of patina on the interior and a more recent respray outside. Twin exhaust pipes poked out the back, otherwise, I would have been sorely tempted to crack the hood to check for an OHC Six!
Here’s a clean 1948-50 Dodge pickup, featuring a ‘Pilot House’ cab.
Wonder if it was as roomy as International’s ‘Comfo-Vision’ cab?
Hard to believe, but I barely gave this clean 1966 Mustang a second glance.
This 1971 (or ’72?) MGB/GT decked out for rallying managed to hold my attention a little longer.
Caution! The Prince of Darkness This Way Lurks!
Oooh! A 1991 Taurus SHO with the Plus Package! And in the one-year-only Mocha Frost color, too!
A very business-like cockpit, for sure, with a Mazda-sourced five-speed manual. Note Jack Telnack’s signature on the dash – it was his team at Ford that were responsible for the jelly-bean era that the Taurus kicked off.
And the pièce de résistance! That’d be the Yamaha-designed 3.0l DOHC V6, making 220hp at 6,200 RPM. It would propel the Taurus to 143 MPH (230KPH), as tested by Car & Driver in 1989.
Okay, so maybe the Taurus wasn’t the actual first jelly-bean car from Ford. Here’s a nice 1988 Mercury Merkur. The only detail that changed for 1989 was the A-pillar trim (thankfully I had a frontal shot to help pin it down). I liked these when they came out, but the loss of the bi-plane spoiler in 1988 kind of killed it for me. Back when we were shopping for a more baby-friendly replacement for my Suzuki Samurai, we briefly looked at a used one – thankfully, in hindsight, it was out of our price range. We bought a Chevy Sputum Spectrum instead (cue the sad trombone sound). I had not realized until looking this car up that Bob Lutz was responsible for captively importing it for the US market. Hmmm. I’m starting to notice a trend here.
Before we leave the 1990s, we’ll make one more stop to take in this cute Mercury Capri convertible, which I’m pretty sure is not a 1994. You can tell me in the comments whether it’s a 1991, 92 or 93 – I couldn’t pin it down based on my quick research.
While obviously not a GM Holden product, this car was indeed an Australian-manufactured car, sold there as the Ford Capri, as Oz lacked a Mercury presence.
I think the cockpit was quite tasteful, if a bit on the charcoally side. The Capri styling was (loosely) based on Ford’s Ghia-designed Barchetta concept car, which I had the pleasure of seeing in person at Ford’s Hapeville, Georgia plant (which also happens to be where that SHO above was assembled).
Well, I’ve saved what I consider to be the best for last… first up is this workmanlike 1966 Dodge Power Wagon Town Wagon (no, you’re not seeing double). The Dodge Town Wagon was a two-wheel-drive passenger variant of the Town Panel truck, outfitted with either two or three rows of seating. Power Wagons were of course four-wheel-drive trucks, and when combined with the Town Panel or Town Wagon body, you got the concatenated name, often shortened to just ‘Power Town Wagon.’
“They don’t make dashboards like that any more, son.”
This is a three-row variant, but note the truncated middle row, and the flip-up passenger seat? That’s because this is a two-door (not counting the rear barn doors) truck – you had to enter from the front passenger door and clamber your way over all the other Boy Scouts going on the camping trip to get to the back row.
We’ll linger here for one last photo before moving to the one I’m calling dibs on…
Folks, meet the 1941 Dodge WC-something half-ton truck. I say ‘something,’ because there were a large number of variants made of this truck. I think it’s a WC-1, but it could also possibly be a WC-5, WC-12, WC-14 or WC-40, all of which were closed-cab half-tonners. The winch on this example must have been added later, as all the variants listed didn’t come from the factory with one.
The original olive drab paint is showing through the later covering of red. My guess is this truck got repurposed for use by a fire department somewhere along the line.
Other than the repop tailgate, the rest appears to be original to the truck, with exception of…
this fine replacement bed.
With that short wheelbase and leaf-spring suspension, I bet it’s hard to take a sip of coffee on all but the smoothest of roads.
For such a purpose-built, utilitarian vehicle, they still took time to make some of the details look nice. Any modern truck would simply have a break-formed box in place of the graceful stamped curves of this bed side support.
Oh, let’s linger on just one more shot before we head over to the museum area… very wabi-sabi.
Inside the old showroom were displayed perhaps eight or ten stunningly restored Ford Model As. Unfortunately for me, I managed to take most of my photos such that the signage identifying the year and model were obscured, so I’ll leave it to some of you more knowledgeable folks to identify them in the comments.
I did manage to get this one – it’s a 1931 Roadster Deluxe.
Love the shades of green on this ’30 Coupe.
Another sharp color combination. I wouldn’t mind having this parked in the garage at all.
Although, a Model A pickup has always tugged at my wallet heart.
One last example from the collection. My son and I talked with the owner for about a half-hour – he also has an example of every 1929 Oldsmobile model offered that year, including a Phaeton that he purchased for exactly what it cost new (if I remember his story correctly). He hopes to be able to raise the money to build out a proper museum for his extensive collection – if he does, it will be a real boon to the area.
And with that, my coffee’s done, and we’ve come full circle! Other than a 2014 (still-Chevy-badged) SS that showed up right as I was leaving, the only other Holden products in attendance were a handful of Pontiac G8s and GTOs. We did manage to get all the dark grey Commodores together for a photo-op. Hope you enjoyed the show!
What a fun collection! As nice as this one is, I have still never been able to work up enthusiasm for the 1962 Oldsmobile. Move me one year in either direction, however . . .
And that Dodge Town Wagon, just Wow! Years ago I caught a single shot of one on the road and I have never seen another one since. These must have sold miserably, or else Dodge would have brought out a new version with the re-done 61 pickup line. I continue to marvel that other than International into the mid 70s, nobody else ever gave Chevrolet some straight-up competition to the Suburban until quite recently.
I’m not sure the Town Wagon is wearing the authentic Plum Crazy color, but it seems very appropriate.
I like the 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire, but the 1962 full-size Oldsmobile is one of those cars that really needs the upper trim levels to work. The base models with the dog-dish hub caps look far too plain. Even more so, for some reason, than the low-level, full-size Chevrolets of that year.
The Dodge Town Wagon is interesting, as is the name. If someone had told me that Dodge offered a “Town Wagon” before I read this article, I would have visualized Dodge’s answer to the Ford Country Squire or Pontiac Bonneville Safari!
My grandfather’s last car was a ’62 Olds, pretty similar to this except it was the lower-trim Dynamic 88 in metallic beige (Sahara Mist, according to PaintRef). So yes, pretty basic in appearance, but I’ve always been partial to them because of the family connection.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the convertible bodystyle is the best of the 71-73 Mustangs, the overall length is longer than the earlier ones, sure, but a lot of the actual visual bloat is in the buttressed coupe roofline and the
flatbackerr, fastback roofline. The convertible however looks quite aethletic, in fact I’d say more attractive than the 69-70s in some ways.The bumper is nasty, though it blends right in with modern cars that spiderweb and crack the paint if you so much as brush up against them. Only the existing rear bumper was extended outward in 73, the front bumper is actually a totally new design, the big tell is that it extends down all the way down to the lower valance, while the 71-72s had a horizontal opening with the parking lights inside between the thinner bumper and valence (which is why they were moved to the grille in 73). For all the hate this design gets the 73s 5mph bumper integration should be applauded, the Mustang II to follow looked like typical 70s Ford guard rail bumpers, just done in body color.
Love the SHO plus, even has the police grille retrofitted.
Sorry, there’s no way I could pick just 1….or even just 5 of the cars/trucks pictured. However, you can keep all those near new cars pictured.
I almost bought a 73 Mustang convertible like the one here. Unfortunately, it turned out it was a survivor of a collision with a deer. Between the mis-matched panel gaps and the massive orange peel to the (re)paint job, that even if it had had a SOHC Ford big block I still think I would have passed on that car.
A very enjoyable, eclectic mix! Always something new to be learned here @ CC! I had my first experience with a non synchro transmission in a Corvair, I, too, love the wheels on the posted example, really makes it pop. SO GLAD to see a non “DOH” 69 Charger (IMO a STUPID show that I never watched!) The AMC’s were very nice, too many racks on the MGB GT, and that Power Town Wagon in “Plum Crazy” no less!! I had a ball reading this, Thanks! 🙂
I’m kinda partial to that Holden badged SS in the first shot. ?
Amazing how, if it’s a really good Cars & Coffee, the easiest things to ignore in the parking lot are Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers and Chargers. Other than sheer weight of numbers, they’re so forgettable amongst all the interesting stuff that shows up.
Agreed, 1st gen Mustangs are too easy to find for a car that was 1st produced over 50 years ago. If anything, its definitely harder to find an early Fox Mustang or Capri from nearly 20 years later. Speaking of Capri’s Carfax confirmed that the Capri shown here is a 1991.
I don’t mind seeing them, I’m just not interested in seeing Shelby clones and the like. A Grande will get my attention over most of the muscle car examples.
Just for the record, the Lincoln in photo #6 has a soft top, not a retractable hard top. It is also the only post-war American 4-door convertible.
Don’t forget Kaiser-Frazer.
At first I thought that the tan vinyl half-roof on the 1970 Javelin was some sort of aftermarket thing. Then I dug around a bit and found this. Who knew?
Hmm, is it possible AMC was ahead of the curve with this? The rear half top treatment became one of the the most common vinyl roof treatments from the mid 70s and beyond, but I can’t think of any other car that had it in 1970, I don’t think think Lincoln had it until the Mark IV, nor Cadillac until 73 maybe?
Either way the brochure SST striped up with the go-package with that roof treatment is certainly interesting, I wonder if any were actually made in that odd combo
Just as interesting is the 1965-66 Dodge Dart GT coupe, which featured a vinyl roof that only covered the portion of the roof forward of the C-pillar.
I’ll gladly take that 1991 SHO, it’d look great in the driveway parked next to my ’90 Taurus wagon. 🙂
I’d love that 290/4V AMX too, but I couldn’t afford it. 🙁
Lots of cool stuff here! That old school Vicky looks spot on. Love the AMX, but the color combo is unfortunate at best. And while I love first gen Javelins, that vinyl roof really mars the design. The Corvair looks dead on. Those Olds Rallys really look like they should have been there all along…the style of that wheel is as timeless as the shape of the car, and that’s color-keyed wheels done properly.
Those Power Wagons sure are a great find. I saw an immaculately restored one just like it at a car meet, but in a period correct sage green color that made me drool. The PCP paint job is really at odds with those straight laced and sober looking steelies and dogpans. I hope theyre placeholders for something more fitting like 10″ wide slot mags, although ANYTHING is better than the blinged out 20″+ abominations that are on way too many 8 lug rigs these days.
My picks: The Charger and the Pilot House pickup. Both have the color combo and the wheel/tire package nailed for an overall look that compliments them perfectly.
Looks a great drive-in/cruise/whatever you want to call it.
1965 Lincoln Continental for me please – no doubts!
I was all set to say AMX but the green Model A wins my heart.
Looks like a fine event.
That ’49-’50 Dodge pickup is sweet! And while I understand the desire not to get T-boned or sideswiped, and I seldom ever opine against improving the specifications of a vehicle’s lighting system, those sidemarker lights jest don’t belong. Their installation was a crime of vandalism. Fine idea, carried out the wrong way.
The purple Power Wagon Town Wagon’s cool; I like it if it has a Slant-6.
Oh, and that’s a Merkur XR4Ti. You can be forgiven for wanting to pronounce its
namedesignation “Ex-er-otty”, but not for “Mercury Merkur”. There’s no such thing. “Merkur” is German for “Mercury”, and the three dozen Merkurs Ford managed to sell were sold at Mercury dealers, but that’s all.Also: Cars ‘n’ coffee! Cars ‘n’ coffee! (⬅︎That’s a link. Best line’s at 0:41.)
Doh! You are of course correct, and I know I knew that… at one time or another.
Love the variety ! .
A buddy had one of these Dodge Power Wagons and re did it as a ‘Bay Watch’ tribute vehicle, found the body basket and other bits and bobs, no one ever wanted to buy it though….
I never saw that program even once so mayhap the truck wasn’t all that big of a deal in it .
I owned a 1949 Dodge B1B Pilot House 1/2 ton pickup, I bought it from Barlow’s Hudson in San Gabriel for $250 ~ it had been the Hudson Dealers service rig and was fully optioned with stainless steel grille, heater/defroster, radio, spot lights and fluid drive .
This Sunday, 8.26.17 is the Cars & Coffee in Palos Verdes, Ca. , mostly European cars, always a few rare vintage Americans show up too .
I’ll try to cadge a ride as I like looking at them .
Cars & Coffee ~ a great way to spend a Sunday morning =8-)
-Nate
Lots of interesting stuff here.
The steering wheel in the Olds is indeed “deeep-dished”, so much so that if installed in, say, a Scion xB, you would use it to steer the car in front of you.
Power Wagon, when repainted, is my choice, though probably more to look at than to workout/drive.
As for the Capri, Ed Stembridge, if you’re thinking of a cheap summer Australian car to complement your new one, know that the Oz car industry came a very long way from that to yours. They’re like driving a floppy waterbed, and if it’s wet, the bed is on top and has a hole.
I remember seening Crapis parked outside the Broadmeadows complex in Melbourne with huge lemon decals attached, not Ford AUs best effort considering it was only a restyle of a Mazda 232 Cabriolet which are not rare and dont leak.
The deep wheel is a decent attempt at avoiding the spear of death steering column effect.
Nice variety of cars Ed, definitely some unusual stuff there!
It is interesting when collectors buy one of each for a particular model, there was a collection of 1935 (ish) Fords being sold off here years ago, they were even all in the same colour!
Hard to believe there were no classic Toyotas, Datsuns, Jaguars or air-cooled VWs, of any sort present. 🙁
Oh well.
Well, this is the Midwest, after all. There was a 240Z at the C&C Friday Night Lights cruise-in a couple evenings ago, but it was quite hotted up. There were also two (!) Silvias, both RHD.