Peter Behrens's Blog, page 29

Saab story

 

Saab 900s At one time these were a common sight in New England, even in downcast Maine. Cranky but smart cars. Remember that ignition switch on the floor? We posted a newer Saab convertible last summer. And this Saab Viggen post has links to other Saab sighting.

Truck

 

AL likes SWB 2-axle dump trucks; also that Boston vernacular pin-striping.

Ford Lightning

 

First one we have seen in Cambridge. Kinda same old, same old, though. Big black overblown regular Super-Duty Fords and mega-Chevys, also usually black, are always chasing me up and down the Maine Turnpike. Lone males in massive trucks. Coming up fast, 'outta my way!"--you know the ride. Okay, yeah, truck size...the crisis in masculinity...the election...it's all connected, somehow.

c. 1966 Ford F-250, Marfa, Texas

 

"1st pass with pressure washer!" Another from David Branch's rehab ranch for old West Texas trucks.  The antelope grill is a local essential.

Ford F-250 Tremor Moonlander

Michael Moore spotted it in Ely, Nevada. The Tremor is the beefed-up, off-road-packaged F-250. Not exactly a wheelbarrow. Kind of the opposite. It seems to us a truck like this wants to declare war on something. Like, nature. Going where no man (in a massive truck) has gone before. Probably hearing him coming, though. Tremors, indeed. With the Moonland on a shortbed, you sleep sideways. Sounds massively uncomfortable. 

 

1972 International Harvester 1110

 

David Branch is creating a refuge for old ranch trucks in Marfa, Texas.  

1985 Chevrolet C10

The Marfa truck is getting reorganized at David Branch's shop. All DB photos.
 

Squarebody Successor: 1988 Chevrolet 1500 4x4 SWB. Mackinac Island

 Jonathan Welsh-"Spotted this squarebody successor on Mackinac Island, of all places. They do not allow motor vehicles there, with rare exceptions. This one clearly charmed its way in. The paint scheme seems to scream "1988" though it could be an '89. These clean machines have gained traction among collectors and are my favorites from General Motors -- elegant and unadorned. I would take one with an 8-foot bed.

Chevy II, Maine.

  The Chevy II was GM's response to Ford's Falcon. "Compacts" of the early 1960s. Nova, the topmost trim level Chevy II, soon took over the brand and Chevy II was ditched. Here 's a very clean and concise Chevy II we caught in California a while back--perhaps it came out of the factory with the same paint as today's car, which we saw in Orland, Maine.

1963 Ford Falcon, San Francisco

 

Henry Behrens photographs. We posted a 1962 Ford Falcon Ranchero a while back. And we have posted on the Falcon and Robert S. McNamara