Peter Behrens's Blog, page 36

(Started Life As) 1946 Willys Jeep

Photos from Colin Washburn, in NE California.

Volkswagen bus, c. 1965 Colorado Springs

 

1949 Hudson Commodore Sleekmobile, Colorado Springs

 

Bullnose Ford F-250, etc.

 

From Reid Cunningham: "In Manchester NH.  I much prefer regular cabs, but bonus cabs were still uncommon even in the early 80's.  Had we only known they would be the gateway drug for the–extra cab, extended cab, bonus cab and crew cab (anything with 4 doors)– addiction of the current truck market.  That said, it's a bit rusty and missing a tailgate, but it still looks good for a 40 year old truck.  In high school in the early 80's I drove a 40-year-old truck, a '42 Ford 1/2 ton pickup.  This bullnose Ford doesn't get a second glance in a parking lot, whereas the '42 compared to this truck looks positively ancient.  
AL: for example...we posted this workhorse: 1940 Ford 1-ton pickup a while back... 
..and another 1940 Ford in Montana posted a while ago. And this polished example, maybe later 1940s? spotted in South Reno.

1966 VW 1300

Sometimes you're on a schedule and the drive-by is all you can grab. This was in Colorado Springs, last month. Vernacular Beetle: 1967 Volkswagen 1300. See our post "He Made the VW Huge" for its link to Ben Cohen's piece in WSJ on Carl Hahn, the man who led Volkswagen America from 1959 to 1964...and figured out how to market a weird, noisy air-cooled German car in the US.

The Benz workhorse

 

The standard-issue Euro taxi. We posted another 300D in Maine earlier this summer. And a 300D coupe down in Portland.

Camaro SS (early 1970s)

  In Maine. And here's a '69 Camaro, straight Outta Winterport. Another '69 Camaro SS from the Bay Area. One more '69 in Belfast, Maine.

Antique Subaru

Front-wheel-drive and a 5-speed manual, what more could you ask for, c.1986? In a few years SUVs would start happening all over the place. But the Subaru Outback wagon is still the State Car of Maine.





 

Une autre 240

 

Inescapable. See 'em everywhere. You know the Cambridge Volvo pack. How about this 244DL here in Maine? Or a 1989 780 Bertone. These cars are versions on a 240 theme--the Volvo story didn't really change until the 850 came along.

Squarebodies of New England

 

From Reid Cunningham: I finally had a chance to stop for these two blue squarebodies,  and only after stopping did I notice the third in the back.  All three look like 3/4 ton and 4 wheel-drive, the quintessential work and plow truck.  Despite the small tree growing in the back of the dark truck, it has a current inspection.   They look like they are waiting for the first snow fall in New Boston, NH where I found them.AL has a thing for squares. Especially the herd in West Texas. In New England , many squares are minor league plow trucks, for parking lots, often unregistered.