Peter Behrens's Blog, page 156

1967 Pontiac Catalina

 

Cambridge, Mass. Basha Burwell photo. Late summer light.

1946 International Pickup

 

From Alex Emond: "Off the top of my head I don't recognize the make. Mid - 40's, again guessing.
Somebody did some good work here. This is in Ponteix , Saskatchewan. but those are Alberta plates.
I think that's a low luster top coat and not just black primer. This is the finished ride."AL: We made an educated guess at date and make. Alex found another some years back also in Saskatchewan that we called a '46 then, but was likely later.

Cosworth Vega barn rescue.

Reid Cunningham: After a 30-year sleep, this was pulled from a barn in Aaronsburg, PA, and hauled to it's new home in New Hampshire. Only made in 1975 and 1976, a destroked to two-liter Chevrolet Vega block with a Cosworth Engineering (the Formula 1 folks) dual overhead cam, 4 valve per cylinder head. The first computer controlled fuel injection in a mass produced car, forged internals and a hand welded stainless steel header. An entirely redesigned rear suspension with a locator arm and panhard bar, along with an upgraded front suspension. A hairshirt driving experience, no power brakes, power steering, air conditioning or automatic transmission available. 75's only came in black, in '76 they came in any of the Vega colors. This one is Firethorn Red with the optional 5 speed that became available that year, a 4:10 positraction rear axle and the AM/FM stereo (since it was a Vega, they didn't have speakers on both sides of the car. Instead one channel was in the front and the other was in the rear. You only got true stereo if you say sideways in the seat.). The engines were all hand assembled and the Cosworth cars were sent down a slowed-down production line in batches to get them right. Each came with a numbered dash panel. They were expensive, twice the price of a regular Vega and not much less than a Corvette. 2,000 built for 75, 1,500 for 76, and that was that.
Why do I know so much about this car? I bought if off the rear row of a used car lot in 1986 and drove it for a few years before stashing it in the barn in PA. It was a nightmare to keep running, no one knew how to work on the fuel injection. With the internet and a small but very active owners association, it's actually easier to keep them running now.
The PA house was sold so I needed to rescue it. My middle-school-aged son is excited to work with me on getting it road worthy. Having just moved, that won't happen until at least spring, but we are happy to have it in the garage to begin tinkering. It has some rust, but nothing fatal. The engine will require a lot of checking and TLC before turning over, but the interior is on surprisingly good condition. Wish us luck.

16 Valve Engine Dual Overhead Cam reads the dash plaque.

Unleaded Fuel Only, that transition period.

Scout II in Cambridge

The transmission was in the trunk but otherwise she was in fine shape. Those Seventies graphics are still kinda stunning. AL saw her up at Fresh Pond, in Cambridge MA. Jonathan Welsh caught a Scout II Rally in NJ a while back. And a couple of vintage Scouts from Colorado Springs.










 

1967 Volkswagen Westfalia

 

The spirit of '67 on the Maine Turnpike.

1957 Canadian Pontiac

  from Alex Emond:
"This Pontiac was at the Tim Horton's in Strathmore, Alberta. Smoke haze was thick that day . I am not sure of the exact model . I suspect that all the chrome bits have been redone because they were suspiciously flawless. Not as common as the Chevy's of that year . Cheers , Alex "

AL: Let's call it a Laurentian. Or a Strato Chief. I think that Canadian Pontiacs of that era were Chevys is all but sheet metal. Like this '62 Pontiac Laurentian. Or this '59 Strato Chief. How about this 1959 Pontiac Laurentian Safari wagon?

Southwest Saskatchewan

 
Alex Emond photographs

1962 Studebaker Lark convertible

 

Saw the car at Motorland in Arundel, Maine. We posted a 1950 Studebaker Commander in New Hampshire a few months back. And an extremely original 1953 Studebaker Commander in West Texas. Try the search widget and you'll see a bunch more.

Brooks Stevens and the 1947-65 Jeep pickup.

From Jonathan Welsh on Deer Isle, Maine. Willys-Overland and Kaiser Jeep built these no-nonsense pickups from 1947 to 1965 with surprisingly few changes. Engines gained displacement and power, eventually growing to six cylinders from four. But visually they all seem pretty much the same. Grille details place this one in the 1950-53 range. Renowned industrial designer Brooks Stevens penned the truck and later came up with the Jeep Wagoneer, which also had legs (produced from 1962 to 1991 and making a comeback, in name at least, this year).AL: See the 1954 Willys Jeep station wagon we caught a while back. And a '59 Jeep Pickup this spring. Yer basic Willys Jeep CJ in Colorado Springs. A 1957 Willys Jeep FC-170. And, oh yeah, the Willys street rod.

Geography