Thread by @iowahawkblog

Boolah boolah, rah rah rah, and happy graduation season from #DavesCarIDService! Today we salute the humble and venerable campus jalopy - like this 1926 Ford Model T that once roamed Long Beach State U.

You may remember the concept from Archie comics: a beat up old Model T or A on its last gasp, purchased for $10, festooned with comical messages and raccoon tails, ready to putter you and 5-20 of your pals around campus. The antithesis of a hot rod, a lovable junker.

The heyday of the beloved college jalopy, often a fraternity's mechanical mascot, was 1930-55. A few in action:

1. "Muttzie," 28-29 Ford A, George Washington U 1942
2. 28-29 Ford A, UNC 1940
3. "Rosie," 17-24 Ford T, U Oregon 1942
4. 21-24 Ford T, U Louisville 1938

Let's not forget the king of all campus jalopies, the legendary Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech. Maybe a little too nice to technically be a "jalopy," this cheerleader magnet 1930 Ford A sport coupe is an echo of that jaunty era.

one last note on this topic: "Archie" is a bit of a ripoff of "Harold Teen," a comic strip that goes back to 1919. They even made a silent film comedy series based on him in 1928, complete with message-laden 17-24 Ford T touring - 13 years before Archie debuted.

Time to get to my mystery car case files. If you have an old timey family snapshot containing one, I'll do my best to solve it if you adhere to the pledge - and if it has a special mom, grandma, etc, I'll try to get to it on tomorrow's Mothers Day Thread Special.

I'm a sucker for carchitecture, and Albert Frey later designed some of my favorite 1950s Midcentury Modern houses in Palm Springs. A bit fuzzy for solid ID here, but I believe under the house is a 29-30 Chevy sport coupe, and other is 28-29 Ford A.

https://twitter.com/CountdeRola/status/1654196003166384128

Ah! Is picture from old country! All sing Siouxland anthem!

These two brides for two brothers are standing in front of a 1954 Dodge Coronet, as they embarked upon creating 2 broods of double-cousins.

https://twitter.com/PaulGales1/status/1653131754180612096

A blushing aw shucks, but thank YOU for supplying such a swell heartwarming shot from your family archives. The car in question here is a 1946-48 Plymouth sedan.

https://twitter.com/BillNehr/status/1652844317512220675

"Stop complaining about your coat, you'll grow into it."

Behind the picket fence and the little fussbudget is a 1954 Chevy 210 2 door sedan; right behind it is another 53-54 Chevy.

https://twitter.com/Rob_Lipsey/status/1652788596582105093

Get used to it girl, you'll be wearing this for another 7-8 winters.

Reluctantly I must tap out on Uncle Henry's scooter; all I can say is it's not one of the usual Cushman-Powell-Western suspects. But the cars (nearest to farthest) are 1934 Dodge, 36 Ford, and 47-48 Studebaker.

https://twitter.com/frankwood62/status/1652706752117510147

I think these Okies from Muskogee are proud of their circa 1924 American LaFrance fire apparatus and the Fire Chief's jaunty 1929 Pontiac roadster. Will have to check out the firehouse brewery next time I'm in Muskogee.

https://twitter.com/hondoscotty/status/1652687552564936707

*I have been through Muskogee a few times, it's on my secret Will Rogers Turnpike-avoiding shortcut betwixt Austin and Chicago.

Redacting to test my accuracy, eh? Nice try pal, but that there's the radically redesigned 1949 Nash Airflyte (aka Bathtub Nash), and Grandma's demonstrating its wokka-chikka fold-out-into-a-bed front seat. Don't come a-knockin' if the Nash is rockin'.

https://twitter.com/BeachOso/status/1652686706926313472

Nice compendium of the new postwar 48-49 envelope body models that replaced the prior fat pontoon fender designs; L-R, Studebaker, Packard, Hudson, Ford, Mercury.

This former GI demonstrates literal nonsense on stilts, and may I say "Elmer Droddy" is one of the best names I've ever heard. I've known a couple of Elmers in my life, including an Elmer Zellmer.

The swanky car in background: 1955 Dodge Coronet Lancer.

https://twitter.com/DroddyJd/status/1652070203331858432

Suburban? No SUV in this splendid shot. These stylish Florida tourists are posing alongside a 1925-26 Studebaker Standard Six sedan. Dig that 1920s Tudor/ Norman revival bungalow behind them.

https://twitter.com/ablake5055/status/1651972643589898241

Neat to hear the LIRR bridge is still largely unchanged, but the resolution is a little too pixel-y for a dead certain car ID. But if I had to bet on it, the roundish grille suggests 1908ish Franklin touring.

https://twitter.com/NewYorkGuy212/status/1650508480632041473

*best I can do, sorry. Headlights were not a standard accessory at the time

The unsuspecting New Yorker was suddenly eaten alive by a 1961 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (ht @MRaff57).

https://twitter.com/MichaelWarbur17/status/1651324281370943490

Behold the dawn of convenience stores, featuring (#1, LR) VW Beetle, 56-61 Chevy Corvette, 55 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe; and (#2 L-R) 58 Ford, 56 Mercury, 52 Dodge.

https://twitter.com/DaveAlexanderID/status/1652679643504205829

Fresh from the DMV with his new driver's license, Pops Pollak practices flexing his rippling biceps for the local cruise night drive-in car hops in a 1954 Ford.

https://twitter.com/NoahPollak/status/1652682410985938944

Another one impeded by pixelation, but I am perhaps irrationally confident that the sedan parked in Aunt Sue Ellen's yard is a 1932 Chevy.

https://twitter.com/shahand/status/1652695905001242624

Check out Abuelo's fantastic linemen's boots, which took about 15 minutes to lace up, and note that at least a few of his amigos are smoking cigars. Their work truck was a 1940-42 Ford.

https://twitter.com/antoniogm/status/1652701724753432576

I thought the mystery driver in the 1968ish Austin Healey Sprite behind your lovely missus was The Stig until I noticed the pony tail behind her helmet. In front of the Sprite, a '69 Camaro Z/28, and to left a 1970-71 Firebird & 68 Chevelle.

https://twitter.com/2_wheels/status/1652717727725887488

Not sure it's the 50s, as behind Grandpa Fred reviewing those troops is (I'm pretty sure) a 1963 Cadillac Fleetwood limo; Grandpa Ford is rocking a Buster Brown hat in a circa 1910 Mitchell Model S touring.

https://twitter.com/Parmesanides1/status/1652734555328004096

*"Buster Brown" was a turn of the century newspaper comic strip, and later became brand name for a kid's shoe line. Also gave us the term "Mary Jane shoes" for his comic strip girlfriend.

**don't ask me how I know this stuff, it just shows up in my head.

Grandma and Grandpa were obviously a fertile couple, but unfortunately I'm fairly stumped by the well worn (maybe handmade) wood cab truck behind them. Can say it's 1920s and not a Ford, so candidates are Chevy, Dodge, Stude, or maybe Graham.

https://twitter.com/larryhickey17/status/1652722323827326978

All smiles in this terrific shot, featuring a 1951 Pontiac Fleetleader, Pontiac's no-frills 6 cylinder base model.

https://twitter.com/rgrbud/status/1652757352678916096

<twists head>

Either Dad ran the local preschool Cosa Nostra, or was auditioning for "Guys & Dolls." Grandma & Grandpa must've been frugal, as I believe the car back yonder is a 1937-38 GM B-body sedan, either Buick or Olds.

https://twitter.com/corey_lanum/status/1652770070064496641

"You shoulda kept ya mouth shut Mugsy, see? Tonight youse sleep with da fishes."

(I encourage you to crop / orient your photos for maximum reader enjoyment)

Time to move on to various street & wilderness mysteries, and there's nothing better than seeing a little Deuce coupe in the wild; specifically a 1932 Ford 5 window.

https://twitter.com/philmount/status/1653890360924581888

*once again, "Deuce" is for the 2 in 1932, and it's a "5 window" because a windshield does not count as a window.

1955 Chevy 150 or 210 Sedan Delivery, nicely street rodded beyond its humble work wagon original purpose.

https://twitter.com/cpickdc/status/1652747101292437507

Cowabunga! This lumber-hauling surfer's dream is a 1947-48 Ford woody.

https://twitter.com/jeffdomingues/status/1652742405140144128

1970 Plymouth Duster, jacked up Dazed & Confused 1970s high school dirtbag style.

https://twitter.com/ColdCathodeMan/status/1652676752789893120

Pretty damned cool to see a 1962 Caddy Coupe de Ville on the streets of London; maybe associated with that smoked meat shop?

https://twitter.com/BenelliSBE/status/1652405642689118208

Anyways, like the Absent-Minded Professor's campus jalopy (a 1915 Ford Model T btw), I gotta fly now. But back tomorrow for a special Mother's Day episode. Until then, Happy Motoring!