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Maybe this is what killed the electric car

Dean — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:22:07 +0000

Just in time for the OPEC oil embargo in October of 1973 the First Symposium on Low Pollution Power Systems Development was held in the Mariott parking lot in Ann Arbor. Unveiled that day from GM was the Urban; a suspicious looking cross between a golf cart and a Gremlin. Not to be outdone was the space-age-kit-car-looking Sundancer that cranked out 8 horses using a dozen 6 volt batteries. Inside the Mariott lobby an exhibition reminiscent of a high school science fair was held. We’re still waiting for the Second Symposium on Low Pollution Power Systems.

Vintage Billboards

Dean — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:36:03 +0000

I know in her “Beautification Campaign” Lady Bird Johnson fought to remove billboards from America’s roads, but some of these billboards are works of art.

Just like Mom, women’s clubs were always looking out for our well being.

This 1950’s billboard looks very 1970’s.

When cowboys ruled a kids world.

Looks like a nice Jaguar and Lincoln.

The never ending quest for a clean restroom.

This one has me hungry for a piece of cake!

I guess this makes her the Queen of National Sign Week.

Without checking, I’ll bet Bob Hope was the host.

I used to love these rotating signs. I wonder if it rotated to Don Drysdale and Maury Wills?

Magic Highway 1958

Dean — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:27:19 +0000

1958 Disney short exploring the future of American automotive transportation. A utopian view where everything is effortless and automated. Some of the predictions in the movie have come true; rearview cameras, real-time traffic updates, automatic navigation and giant drills that can cut through solid rock. The idea of exercising must have been eliminated by the Disney futurists as even walking is by conveyor.

Vertical Car Shipping

Dean — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:11:58 +0000

In an effort to cut shipping costs with it’s brand new 1971 Vega Chevrolet worked with Union Pacific to develop “Vert-A-Pac” which allowed 30 cars to be shipped versus 18 that a normal boxcar could carry. Because of the vertical shipping method, the railcars were taller than normal forcing the railroad line to follow special routes to avoid low overpasses.

According to Collectible Automobile The Vegas had four removable steel sockets inserted into the undercarriage. As the Vert-a-pac car doors were lifted and closed the Vegas would roll forward an catch on hooks on the doors. When the doors were fully shut the Vegas were suspended side by side, roof to roof.

The Vega’s engine oil pan had a special baffle to keep oil from seeping into the number 1 cylinder while the cars were vertical. The battery caps, carburetor float bowls and windshield washer fluid reservoirs were also designed to prevent fluids from leaking during shipping.

Baseball great Maury Wills scores a new MG

Dean — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:00:24 +0000

In a season-long battle of ballots, Maury Wills stole a short lead and slid home just ahead of Tommy Davis as the most popular Dodger in an annual event sponsored by Roy Rogers and Frank Millard of Frank Millard Sports Car Center in Encino. Maury was presented a brand new MG roadster for stealing the show. Tommy Davis, as runner up, made a powerful stretch drive and was rewarded by Rickey Biagi with a gift certificate for fifty-two weeks of gourmet dining at his Rickey’s Valley Inn on Sherman Oaks Blvd. Photo dated: October 16, 1962.

Rainy Day

Dean — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:36:18 +0000

Series of photos taken on a rainy day in 1967 from inside a Plymouth Valiant.

Photos PLCjr

1955 Thunderbird Fender Bender

Dean — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:40:40 +0000

I can’t say I blame her for being upset and given the way the police officer is talking to her it looks like it may have been her fault. I’ve never seen these wheels covers on a 55 Bird. I wonder if these were dealer installed. The Photos were taken in June of 1958 in Los Angeles. Does anyone know the location?

Life Photo Archive

Hershey Car Show 1962

Dean — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:19:14 +0000

Interesting look at the Hershey car show when everything shown was pre-war. I wonder if the folks who drove to the show in their modern cars knew they were driving future classics.

Townsend Pontiac-Cadillac 1962

Dean — Sat, 02 May 2009 01:41:47 +0000

It was happier times for GM and Pontiac in 1962 when these photos were taken at the Townsend Pontiac-Cadillac dealership in 1962, an era when Detroit steel was almost always completely new each Fall. It was always an event to see the new models and if you look closely you can see that even the Sheriff has stopped in for a look. The stunning new Grand Prix can already has an interested customer. Not a bad choice at all.

The VW Bus Ball

Dean — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:37:32 +0000

Just about everyone knows that the guys in ZZ Top are big car guys. It seems like every time you see them they’re not far from a classic street rod. Well, the other night my wife had the pleasure of seeing ZZ Top in concert as part of special VH1 concert that was shot here in Chicago. One of the guys she went with is a big art car guy and he mentioned to her that she had to check out the VW Ball created by ZZ Tops Billy F Gibbons. What an amazing piece of art!

Photos Coker Tire