How's this for a barn (OK, container) find? After 35 years in storage, 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder chassis # 0069 (nice). Hat tip to my pal @oldcrowspeed who found the 550 and is seen here bringing it out of its tomb into the sunlight.

btw for you non-car people, the Porsche 550 Spyder is (sadly) best known as James Dean's "Little Bastard" death car. Dean's 550 was VIN 550-0055, built 14 cars ahead on the Stuttgart assembly line.

oddly enough James Dean died in 1955, in a Porsche 550, serial #550-0055.

I guess you could say that James Dean.... can't drive 55.

I'll show myself out now

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David Burge

@iowahawkblog

10 Apr

Today's Hill Country garage crawl featured a pair of Deuces...

first one is a box stock, AACA class winner 1932 Ford Model B roadster; second is same thing after applying some genuine old-timey 1950s hot rodding techniques.

Then a pair of 6s...

First one is a 1936 Ford 3 window coupe, second a 1936 5 window coupe. First motor is an early Olds Rocket with a vintage 6x2 drag race intake, second is to trigger the dopes who think small block Chevys don't belong in hot rods.

Also, how about a pair of 9s?

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David Burge

@iowahawkblog

10 Apr

Ahh, spring returns to the familiar crack of hickory on horsehide. Today's #DavesCarIDService is brought to by the Des Moines Cubs, KRNT, and the Tucker Corporation, who invite you to vote your favorite Cub to win a sensational 1948 Tucker Torpedo!

A the winner is: Bob Borkowski! The lanky outfielder led the Cornfield Bruin Nine with a .296 BA in 1948. Unfortunately, due to production problems at Tucker's Chicago plant, Bob will get a cash award of $2000 in lieu of the car. Congrats Bob!

(the car is worth $1.5M-$2M today)

It's amazing how many of my soft spot synapses are triggered by that image: Iowa, the Cubs, and of course Tucker Torpedoes- so please indulge me in a brief meandering tangent before getting to the car IDs.

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