Thread by @iowahawkblog

An Indy 500 Memorial Day race salute to Eddie Rickenbacker from #DavesCarIDService. He was America's greatest race car driver / war hero, going from a driving in the first Indy 500 in 1911 to becoming America's #1 flying ace in WW1.

L: 1914 Duesenberg-Mason
R: SPAD fighter

While Rickenbacker never won the Indy 500, he owned Indy Motor Speedway 1927-45. Did I mention he received 8 Flying Crosses, a Medal of Honor, started the Rickenbacker car co, President of Eastern Airlines, and survived 23 days on a life raft in the Pacific after a plane crash?

So, sorry beer commercial guy, that there's the real Most Interesting Man In The World.

Before diving into today's batch of car IDs, another gentle reminder to please follow the guidelines (which many of you continue to flout):

Let's not forget what Memorial Day is really about, though: those like Great Uncle Al who gave their life for America. Here standing alongside a 1936 Chevrolet Standard 2 door Coach.

https://twitter.com/321mdl/status/1398862491166330882

And my grandma's cousin Frank Stebner, who lost his life on the USS Ingraham in 1942. His brother Billy, who I knew, later became a B17 crew member. Here they are in Iowa with a 1940 Chevrolet coupe prior to Frank shipping out.

As I've noted before, Italian-Americans and their cars are among my favorite car ID requests, and this is Exhibit A. Dapper paisanos Enzo & Reno are giving Rudolf Valentino a run for his money with this 1928-29 Ford Model A roadster.

https://twitter.com/TheClayCochran/status/1398839689776287744

Dad looking like a member of the Hi-Los in crew cut, skinny tie and plaid sports coat, with his 1954 Chevy 210 Deluxe wearing custom hubcaps (probably from JC Whitney).

https://twitter.com/TheMarkCarter/status/1396542356371894273

*If you're unfamiliar with The Hi-Lo's, educate yourself because those mofos could harmonize

And Grandpa Bayard here with his handsome 1936 Chevy shop truck. If 1935, it must have been very late in the year and truck brand spanking new. It appears his shop at 1120 W. Pico is now a parking lot for the LA Convention Center and Staples Center.

https://twitter.com/TheMarkCarter/status/1396543011463434240

Holy smokes! Great Auntie is all smiles in a 1951-53 Jaguar XK120 FHC (fixed head coupe), which someone has customized with a chrome vent door and side trim from (I think) a 1954 Buick.

https://twitter.com/IdahoLark/status/1396254490504826880

BTW, not the first Jag XK120 -54 Buick mashup custom I've seen. Barry Goldwater(!) had a 53 Jag XK120 customized by George Barris(!) using bits of a 54 Buick; it's now awaiting restoration at my pal Dave Shuten's shop.

I really hate being stumped, especially when it's a great photo like this one. Closest I can guess is a ~1917 Willys Knight phaeton, but it ain't. Will pin for further research and invite fellow old car students to crowdsource.

https://twitter.com/meesterdon/status/1393930819299954688

*I will of course acknowledge a solid ID here, and award the ID-er with the Dave's Car ID Service Order of Merit. But the car is a rarity and definitely not one of the usual suspects, so please spare us your mOdEL t and sTaNLeY sTeaMEr wild guesses

J.P. Morgan has jumped from a top hat-wearing robber baron-worthy 1912ish Packard Model 30, ready to thwack the photographer with his diamond tipped swagger stick.

https://twitter.com/Marc_Leibowitz/status/1394586895439613953

School's out for these Foxy Grandmas, and 4:20 means it's time to hotbox doobies in that 1969-70 Ford Mustang behind them.

https://twitter.com/garydfaulkner/status/1394631497244712965

Another stumper, but will say gasoline b/c of the primitive radiator on front; "quadracyle" was just an early alt name for "car." Also, pretty sure it's a bike retail shop, not factory. Early car dealers often began as bike dealer.
1/2

https://twitter.com/_michaelcurry_/status/1394849193043402755

2/2

Closest I got is ~1902 Stevens-Duryea, but no cigar; cars 1890s-1905 are very hard to nail down due to the large number (400+) of car biz startups. This runabout is interesting in that it has wheel (rather than tiller) steering, radiator, and wood spoke wheels.

Man, I am slogging through some toughies today, but I think I got this one figured out: Grandpa wasn't on safari in a non-US vehicle, but a 1936ish Packard 120B roadster. Pic look quite a bit earlier than 50s-60s.

https://twitter.com/RandomWhig/status/1394514434127802369

Keep those family photos with cars coming, and I'll do my level best to get 'em ID'd. But now it's time to knock off a few mystery wilderness heaps and street finds, starting with this 1940-47 Dodge pickup.

https://twitter.com/solnsmith/status/1393582361174941697

Fiberglass replica 1923 Ford T RPU hot rod, running a small block Chevy V8, and you should clean your windshield.

https://twitter.com/Cheddarface_/status/1393622727949316096

1957 Ford / 1954ish International R110 pickup.

https://twitter.com/FExeley/status/1393637073815437313

Yes ma'am, that's a pretty darn rare 1939 Hayes-bodied Chrysler coupe. Hayes Corp of Grand Rapids MI built these for Chrysler 1939, one year only, distinguished from stock coupes by bigger back seat and split rear window.

https://twitter.com/RantyAmyCurtis/status/1393666462120808450

A 1980ish Avanti II replica, the first of several attempt to resurrect the beautiful Raymond Loewy-designed 1963 Studebaker Avanti that died with Studebaker Co.

https://twitter.com/sideoutpar/status/1393899637191360517

Pretty sure a 1947-53 Chevy truck rolling chassis.

https://twitter.com/Troy_Tim/status/1393901863041486851

1928-29 Ford Model A phaeton, and I believe Mr @ARTofCOOP would be quite delighted if you broke in there, removed the right side rear door and sent it to him.

https://twitter.com/TheRewster/status/1393905296204976128

1961 Ford T-Bird, the first of the 3 year "Bullet Bird" body style, and why not drive it daily?

https://twitter.com/ThisIsDrivel/status/1394063166016049152

1933-34 Packard club coupe drag racing a 1948-50 Willys Jeepster.

https://twitter.com/ItsBrettFromLA/status/1394320105283014656

1934 Ford cabriolet hot rod, missing a top.

https://twitter.com/DamonJay6/status/1394754600889208833

1951 Mercury Deluxe coupe with Appleton spotlights. 49-51 Mercs were a bit pricier, powerful, and stylish than the Fords they shared most innards with, but yes, definitely a working class car.

https://twitter.com/TIMarkham/status/1395093354522808321

It's 2021, and your friend inherited a jackpot with this 1970-77 Bronco, now the car collector version of Bitcoin.

https://twitter.com/Pinecreekboy/status/1395123803336937472

Gotta close out soon, but with more about the legend of Eddie Rickenbacker: how's this for a family story? Eddie was no slouch mechanic himself - his first ride in a race car was as onboard mechanic on a Firestone-Columbus, 1906 Vanderbilt Cup, age 16.

https://twitter.com/merc1T/status/1398980419400482820

Eddie un-Germanized his name Rickenbacher to Rickenbacker, prompting his engineer kin Adolf to follow suit- and then went on to invent the first electric guitar, the Rickenbacker 'Frying Pan.' Rickenbacker Guitars went on to supply the 60s rock with its jingle jangle.

Last but not least, Eddie R had an Iowa connection, working for the Duesenberg brothers in Des Moines to design the Mason race car. He was appointed as team driver, and his first big win ($10k) was at the 4th of July 1914 race in my home town of Sioux City.

That's it for today folks. Have a great rest of your weekend and Happy Motoring!