Peter Behrens's Blog, page 494

Autoliterate Truck of the Year

We're looking over candidates for the 1st annual Autoliterate Truck of the Year. To qualify, the truck has to have been posted on AL in 2013. Make your voice heard in "Comments". A few front-runners below. More later.

West End, Portland Maine

Cold December Saturday walking in the West End. Some of the grander buildings in this part of town  are from the 1830s. There's a lot of utility wire hanging in this part of town. Last shot is Longfellow Square, and that dark brooding (and blurry) figure is...H.W. Longfellow.

The 1940 Dodge? Oh it's out in the barn.

Thanks to George Tooley, my LCC classmate, for passing this one along. Not sure where the photos and the notes (below) came from originally. 















"Back in 1940, life in the Country was running at a different pace. At about this time VIN *30231403* was built by proud American workers in Detroit, Michigan, one of 84,976 Dodge D-14 DeLuxe four-door sedans manufactured in 1940.  A veterinarian from Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, purchased the blue Dodge new at the local Dodge dealer in Boise. He used it to respond to calls all through the war years; his 1944 permit is still affixed to the windshield.
       As a very valuable asset during wartime, the car was always parked in the barn when not in use. In 1948, the good Doc passed away. The car was put on blocks and covered with bed sheets. No, it was not going to be for sale.Who would have guessed at that time that the Dodge would be asleep for more than 50 years?Children became adults, parents, then grandparents. The old Dodge was still asleep in the barn. In the late 1980's an attempt was made to awaken and sell the car. Finally, early in 2003, the time had come. The bed sheets were taken off, the car was lifted from the blocks, and the tires were filled up with air. A new owner was found. He took the Dodge to Southern California."Seventy-one years old and with 42,342 original miles showing on its odometer. The body, amazingly, is straight and absolutely rust free, thanks to being stored in a dry, well ventilated barn, away from the elements. The blue lacquer paint is original, factory applied. Sure, it's worn thin on the tops of the fenders.  Shows a myriad of nicks, imperfections, and touch ups from the past. There are a few small dings here and there, but not an ounce of body filler nor a single rust bubble. It's all heavy metal! "Repainting this car -- ever -- would be an unforgivable sin. Its patina is irreplaceable and gives the Dodge its inherent value. "Another Dodge industry first for 1940: safety rims. The wheels still feature their factory triple pin-striping, the heavily chromed hubcaps are beautifully preserved. Even the painted red detailing is still intact. Bias ply tires of the dimension 6.00x16 look original as well. I don't think they make "Pennsylvania Rx Supertest Cord S-3" rubber anymore. Open the doors and be invited into a cabin that's 100% factory original. Unmolested, unmodified, un-restored. It has the special 1940's aroma and charm that cannot be duplicated. It should never be restored, instead be enjoyed just the way it is."The dashboard is a masterpiece of Art Deco design. Fabulously painted metal creates the ambiance of lightly stained wood. Nickel plated accents duplicate the look of then-popular costume jewelry.  Every single part seems infused with the designer's idea to create a harmonious environment; details such as the retracting ash receiver lid are simultaneously good-looking and functional. There's simply no comparison to present-day throwaway products, sprouting black plastic appendages everywhere.Nevertheless, the Dodge was built with entirely modern creature comforts. It features dual electric windshield wipers, sealed beam lamps, floating power, hydraulic brakes, telescopic shock absorbers, a column-shifted, synchronized transmission, tinted glass, a chromed horn ring, and a host of other innovations. What was found in the felt-lined, locking glove box is nothing short of astonishing in its historical context:Owner's instruction book in its original envelope."Sentinel" first aid kit, incl. A bottle of "Mercuro-Chrome."Small upholstery brush. Promotional lead pencil "Compliments of DeRail Pool Hall, Glenn's Ferry ID."Old bottle opener. Parking stub dated 8/16/1941, from the "Glen Valley Rodeo." Small metal box containing "Buss Auto Fuses." "Ideal Split Shot" box containing a tire valve and a fishing hook. Pair of celluloid sunglasses."Travel Idaho with CONOCO" road map. Ample space for three on the comfy front bench, featuring air foam seat cushions. Original mohair still looks good, with the unavoidable stains and moth attacks kept to a minimum."Through large, rear-hinged suicide doors, entry to the spacious passenger compartment is easy, even when wearing a top hat. Luxuriously equipped with arm and foot rests, woven grab handles, beveled-glass interior light, and (unused) ash tray, passengers will invariably exclaim:"This feels like Driving Miss Daisy!""Roomy trunk sports original jute mats. Original spare wheel and jacking equipment are present, as well as a spare and a small tool tray. Also included is a set of new GOODYEAR tires of the proper size and a set of new inner tubes.We did not feel the need to mount the new tires, however, it might be advisable before embarking on an extended journey."Let us MARFAK your car!" proclaims Texaco's service sticker on the door jamb. The Dodge was just lubed and serviced, 2,000 miles ago, in 1948. Note the carmine-colored, bakelite 'necker knob', Dodge's early version of power assisted steering. If you have to ask why it's called a 'necker knob', you are probably too young to buy this car."

1954 International Harvester

From Craig Manning and Becky Smith, who found the truck in Arizona.

1959 GMC, 1994 Power Ram

From Alex Emond, our man on the high plains of south Saskatchewan: "More trucks, all veterans and beat-up but still great to see. Edward is an odd name for a town and I am not sure where it is. The fire truck is now in a yard in Gravelbourg."--AE                           

Duquesne Whistle, On The Road, Across the Wide Missouri, and into Downeast Maine

Finally burnt a new CD of road music for the aged and beloved Volvo, for today's drive, heading  down east to home. Was inspired after I started downloading harmonies from the a cappella girls: The Wailin' Jennys, and Mountain Man. Connected to a bunch of other stuff. Now, I admire the Jennys and MM very much; they're in a class by themselves. And the Jennys are Canadian, eh? which hits the button for me. Both of these groups sing beautiful & lively harmonies. However there are a bunch of young women out there singing with tiny, breathy, little-girl voices that give me the creeps. Whispering into the mike, and sounding about thirteen...As an antidote to that tiresome stuff, I slapped some grumpy old white man music on my road CD; none better and crankier than the Bobster. For the last 100 miles  I've listened to Duquesne Whistle, from last year's Tempest CD a bunch and it's a good fit for Bob's shot-to-pieces voice. It occurred to me that Bob now sounds a lot like Tom Waits, that phony, was trying to sound about three decades ago in his wino on skid row persona. But with Bob it's the real deal.
       The first person who turned me on to Duquesne Whistle was my pal Guido Goluke, who's the Dutch translator of (amongst other American classics) Kerouac's On the Road. 
         Shawn Colvin's version of David Byrnes' This Must Be The Place is a good road tune.  Oh there are many. It's one of the strongest American/Canadian genres. When I first heard Springsteen doing Shenandoah I thought it was a little too Ken Burnsy-self-conscious-Americana. Bruce has to watch that, or he'll start thinking he's the Lincoln Memorial. But having listened a couple of time, I think the Boss does do right by the song. Still a bit too self-consciously rough-edged, aiming for the heart of anthem-land, but I like the plunky banjo and, what the hell, the lyrics do have an anthemic aspect. Still, I guess I finally prefer Bob's raffish version of a quarter-century ago.  What a wonderful song it is. Look away, across the wide Missouri. Read Bernard DeVoto lately? He's pretty good on the history of the West.
that's not the Missoura; that's Blue Hill Bay

1961 Chevrolet Greenbrier Van

 They made these with the rear-mounted Corvair engine. There's a rampside '61 Corvair van featured in Hemming's Classic Cars this month. This one was parked down on the Portland (Maine) waterfront, near the Casco Bay ferry terminal. It's a salty zone, but this van doesn't look like its spent too much time there.  Waterfront is the real Rust Belt.

Three-Deckahs, Munjoy Hill, Portland ME (couple of fours)

There's plenty more triple-deckers where these came from: every industrial town in New England had them. Munjoy Hill is a neighborhood on Portland's east end. Traditionally an Italian/Irish neighborhood.

Renault 4CV End of the road.

Thanks, Pixacar.

Ambassadorships for Sale: The Rambler Ambassador 990

           

You can have a small country--say, in the Uruguay/Angola range--for a campaign contribution of $_______. Mid-range nations (The Netherlands, Thailand) cost more--it's the American way. And at the top end, our top diplomatic post in Paris reportedly goes to heavyweights only. So if you want an affordable ambassadorship, check out  the Rambler variety. Saw this 1966 Ambassador on the block at Moto Car (207 667 4592) in Ellsworth, Maine.  And check out our blog on that venerable automobile, the Ambassador of India