Peter Behrens's Blog, page 10

c.serious 1954 Chevrolet. Brooklin, Maine

  Your modern minimalist Maine retro.

1953 Pontiac Laurentian. Cape Cod, Mass.

October 1954. Photo by HHB. That's Frankie O'Brien Behrens.
 

Ultra Van

 

From Reid Cunningham: "The mind stores much useless information,  and when you're into old cars, much of it is, well, useless.   Shall I recite all the displacements of the Pontiac V8?  There are many, but the blocks all shared the same outer dimensions and therefore allow for easy interchange,  except the motor mounts changed, but blocks can be drilled....see what I mean? (Of course, if you are reading this you may be inclined the sway yourself.) This is why I could be driving through rural New Hampshire last weekend, and out of the corner of my eye down a dirt road as I sped by at 50mph,  catch just a glimpse of a large white vehicle and instantly think, "Ultravan,  that's the one built using a Corvair drivetrain."  I've only ever seen them in pictures, but here was the real thing!!  Despite being late, there was no way I was missing this!!  Expensive luxury cars and sports cars?  Pffft.  But an Ultravan,  that is a lifetime highlight......Turned out I had caught it as it was getting loaded at the end of a gathering of the NH Corvair Owners Club.  I had just enough time for a few pictures and a glance at the beautifully restored interior, with warm wood paneling and period fixtures.  What could be better for a very leisurely road trip across the country? "

1942 Ford Super Deluxe coupe.

Basha Burwell caught the Ford in Blue Hill, Maine. I believe that 1942 was a limited production run for civilian anything. Here's a kinda striking 1938 Ford V8 coupe. A 1948 Ford coupe from Waldo County, Maine. And a '37 Ford coupe, also in Maine,







 

c.1968 Ford F-100. Los Angeles (Mar Vista)

c. 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser

These always made a lot more sense than the cranky Land Rovers of the era. Here's a 1986 Land Cruiser we came upon in Cambridge a while back. Bunch of L-C links in that post.



 

2016 Toyota Tundra

Somewhat beefy for a wheelbarrow, but we liked the straight simple plainness of this relatively unadorned Tundra.

 

1934 Plymouth PE Deluxe Sedan

  A mile down the road, in Brooklin, Maine.

                                                   

c.1976 GMC Vandura

 

from Reid Cunningham: "While getting an oil change at the dealer (sadly none of the quick lube places will touch a Fiat), I came across this aging but wonderful custom van.  Wheel flares, turbine wheels, sun shade, odd windows...it has it all!  The 1970s van spirit lives on in...the ubiquitous Sprinter?  I'm not sure the pictures capture it well, but the side and rear windows are tinted blue and match the flames.  

AL: last Vandura we posted was a 4WD conversion. And here's a Vandura camper van finished by  Maine cabinetmakers.

1990s Ford F100 4WD. Los Angeles (Mar Vista)

  Lean and Clean. Could pass for a wheelbarrow truck.