Yesterday was the US interstate highway system, today we bid a happy 71st birthday to the Chevrolet Corvette, the first of which rolled off the production line June 30, 1953 in Flint Michigan.
Only 300 were made in that model year, largely hand built. Available in any color you wanted, as long as it was white (with red upholstery). Kind of a hasty introduction, prompted by the overwhelming buzz the prototype / dream car prompted when it first appeared in NYC in January, and the subsequent traveling GM Motorama show across the country. Over 1 million people saw it during that tour and demand was palpable.
The project itself was prompted by the post WW2 sports car craze. Returning GIs imported more than a few of the nimble little sports cars they saw while stationed in Britain, an alien sight to Americans used to big bulbous sedans from Detroit.
By the early 50s Jags, MGs, Triumphs, Austin Healeys, etc., were a not-uncommon sight in the USA. This sparked sports car road racing at places like Lime Rock CT, Laguna Seca CA, and Elkhart Lake WI. The threat/opportunity for Chevy was obvious and they jumped on it.
Those first 300 Vettes are highly coveted, but in all honesty not that much of car. Fit and finish was spotty due to the vagarities of early fiberglass. They hopped up the reliable old Stovebolt 6 (born in 1929) with triple carbs to squeeze 150 HP from it, but otherwise its antiquated suspension left it more a fashion statement than a competitive sports car.
Only 300 were made in that model year, largely hand built. Available in any color you wanted, as long as it was white (with red upholstery). Kind of a hasty introduction, prompted by the overwhelming buzz the prototype / dream car prompted when it first appeared in NYC in January, and the subsequent traveling GM Motorama show across the country. Over 1 million people saw it during that tour and demand was palpable.
The project itself was prompted by the post WW2 sports car craze. Returning GIs imported more than a few of the nimble little sports cars they saw while stationed in Britain, an alien sight to Americans used to big bulbous sedans from Detroit.
By the early 50s Jags, MGs, Triumphs, Austin Healeys, etc., were a not-uncommon sight in the USA. This sparked sports car road racing at places like Lime Rock CT, Laguna Seca CA, and Elkhart Lake WI. The threat/opportunity for Chevy was obvious and they jumped on it.
Those first 300 Vettes are highly coveted, but in all honesty not that much of car. Fit and finish was spotty due to the vagarities of early fiberglass. They hopped up the reliable old Stovebolt 6 (born in 1929) with triple carbs to squeeze 150 HP from it, but otherwise its antiquated suspension left it more a fashion statement than a competitive sports car.
That sort of "poser" image haunted the Corvette for decades, as the ultimate midlife crisis buy. But it did improve greatly over time. In 1957 Zora Arkus-Duntov took it from a driveway ornament to real racing success with the "Airbox" 300+ hp fuelie version. Its legitimacy of as a real race car was further cemented by Briggs Cunningham's 1960 Le Mans entry, the 1963 Grand Sport, and the unapologetically American bicentennial Greenwood Corvette.
So now when in "Dead Man's Curve" Jan & Dean sang "all the Jag could see were my 6 tail lights," it had the ring of truth.
So now when in "Dead Man's Curve" Jan & Dean sang "all the Jag could see were my 6 tail lights," it had the ring of truth.
Personally I have a sort of love-hate relationship with Corvettes. I salute their racing heritage, and I have visited the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green KY, but there's a sort of cringe of seeing an older gent dusting his brand new Vette at a car show.
But let's face it: dollar for dollar, the Corvette remains the best performance car on the planet, especially with the long overdue mid engine model introduce in 2020.
My all time favorite Vette (as you might expect) is a hot rod: Big John Mazmanian's blown gasser '61. Lest we forget, James Gardner's '68 AIR L-88, and of course Mark Hamill and Annie Potts's wacky C-3 custom in Corvette Summer.
But let's face it: dollar for dollar, the Corvette remains the best performance car on the planet, especially with the long overdue mid engine model introduce in 2020.
My all time favorite Vette (as you might expect) is a hot rod: Big John Mazmanian's blown gasser '61. Lest we forget, James Gardner's '68 AIR L-88, and of course Mark Hamill and Annie Potts's wacky C-3 custom in Corvette Summer.
My fave Corvette story: First time I ever saw 130 mph+ on a speedometer (as a passenger). '72 Vette LT-1 350, 2 lane blacktop in rural Iowa, age 17. How 'bout you?
Now to the car IDs. Please read and recite the sacred pledge below before sending me a request.
Now to the car IDs. Please read and recite the sacred pledge below before sending me a request.
I dub thee The FAFO Kid.
This heartwarming anecdote is illustrated by our head-lumped correspondent silently plotting his revenge in front of a '65-'66 Ford Mustang (would need a tad more visual to ID year). Garage wagon is tough, I sense '66 Chevy.
This heartwarming anecdote is illustrated by our head-lumped correspondent silently plotting his revenge in front of a '65-'66 Ford Mustang (would need a tad more visual to ID year). Garage wagon is tough, I sense '66 Chevy.
https://x.com/boscough/status/1807083315167478013
Our next young pugilist comes to us from the Far East, where he went to practice some authentic Japanese Judo Karate chop-socky in front of a 1950-51 Pontiac Chieftain "Tin Woody" wagon. The wood accent is painted.
https://x.com/Peaceluvwoodstk/status/1807054339992633604
Ring the make debut ID bell! I always let out a little squeal of delight when a brand of car appears in my ID requests for the first time, like this one. This folks are about to take a spin in a circa 1918 Elgin 6 touring car.
https://x.com/USSIndianapolis/status/1806519940125532621
The Elgin car company was created from the makers of Elgin watches, which were made in exurban Chicago Elgin IL. Advertised as "runs like a watch."
Elgin watches were named after the city of Elgin, which was also home to a famous old-timey race.
But Elgin cars weren't made in Elgin. The company was formed from the defunct New Era car company of Joliet (aka Prisontown USA), and were made in Argo IL, which was named after Argo brand corn starch.
Argo, in south suburban Chicago, is now known as Summit, IL.
Elgin watches were named after the city of Elgin, which was also home to a famous old-timey race.
But Elgin cars weren't made in Elgin. The company was formed from the defunct New Era car company of Joliet (aka Prisontown USA), and were made in Argo IL, which was named after Argo brand corn starch.
Argo, in south suburban Chicago, is now known as Summit, IL.
Oh god I went full Cliff Clavin on that one, didn't I
Yes sir, lil' Dad is standing on the running board of a ubiquitous 1917-24 Ford Model T touring. Honestly it's easier to date the photo from Dad's birth year and approximate age (3 or 4 maybe?) than the car, which remained pretty constant 1917-24.
https://x.com/Stephen50936006/status/1805288946923974677
Long time readers know I am very fond of requests featuring Italian families, even though I have zero Italian heritage. Blur prevents an exact make-year, but I'm nearly dead certain it's a 1949-51 Mopar 4-door (Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge or Plymouth) sedan.
https://x.com/quimbyirregular/status/1804526993289191585
You'll never know the lengths I go for you people. After some deep deep research, I am delighted to announce that ol' cantankerous Unk was cruising town in a 1906-08 Schacht Model H high wheeler, made in Cincinnati OH. Ring the first timer bell again!
https://x.com/bo60907/status/1804266852828483939
*high wheelers like this, with hard rubber tires, were popular in rural area with roads deeply rutted with wagon wheels. And they illustrate why the "horseless carriage" term was used.
Brief interruption: keep your political garbage out of my car ID threads, it results in an immediate block. This is a sanctuary from your ilk.
Alas, not every research effort results in an ID win. This delightfully jaunty early motorist in goggles and duster coat is behind a... car that has me well and truly stumped. The issue here is the trumpet/molded taillight; cannot find a match.
https://x.com/Sweeney16/status/1803578285076447271
*that said I will pin for further research, and open it for a crowdsourced ID. But bring along photo evidence of that trumpet tail light.
I mentioned 50s sports cars & road racing in my Vette history, an I presume this is Watkins Glen. No Euro sports car here, it's a US built 1952-53 Excalibur J. Designed by Brook Stevens on a Kaiser Henry J frame; only 3 ever made.
https://x.com/SuddenlyWell/status/1807124670551859264
OK time to go full Cliff Clavin again: of the 3 that were made, one was powered by a Willys Hurricane 6, one by an Alfa Romeo 4, one by a Jag 6. I saw one of the survivors in Milwaukee in 2012, not sure which one this is.
After the Corvette, Kaiser intro'd their own 1953 fiberglass sports car, the Darrin. It had sliding pocket doors.
After the Corvette, Kaiser intro'd their own 1953 fiberglass sports car, the Darrin. It had sliding pocket doors.
Unk must've been king of the Dazed & Confused high school parking lot, with his plum smuggler Levis cutoffs and absolutely bitchin' 1968 Pontiac GTO.
https://x.com/ScottsdaleVeins/status/1807122807756886341
Even though Mom's beloved Rambler wagon is self-ID'd here I'll share because of her fantastic bouffant, and because I can also ID the 1957 Dodge wagon she's parked behind.
https://x.com/MHammer8/status/1807066061139018081
Beek, the Pizza King of Minneapolis! Hope he bought pepperoni for his pies from Abe Froman, Sausage King of Chicago.
His handsome 1955-59 MG MGA here is one of those British sports cars I mentioned earlier, but a tad breeze for Minnesota winters.
His handsome 1955-59 MG MGA here is one of those British sports cars I mentioned earlier, but a tad breeze for Minnesota winters.
https://x.com/RHamann2/status/1806319843890573655
Ignore the Union Jack on the side, this is a VW kit car masquerading as an early 50s MG TD. The real star of the show is your Magnum Pi-esque Ferrari 308 GTS over there.
https://x.com/chef_riggy/status/1805711274057076816
Holy sh...nikeys (I try to limit my cussing in ID threads)!
What a fantastic photo for Corvette Birthday. Dad's 1964 was lightly optioned, but I really dig the Desert Beige paint option. Contain yourselves, ladies!
What a fantastic photo for Corvette Birthday. Dad's 1964 was lightly optioned, but I really dig the Desert Beige paint option. Contain yourselves, ladies!
https://x.com/ReeseKarnuth/status/1807430007045628339
Fresh from the barbershop with a fully lubricated Executive Contour. 100/100, no notes.
First of many to come from Ms. Falana, who graciously shared a treasure trove of vintage family pics. Doting Great Grandpa here is holding tiny mom in the cab of a 1928-29 Ford AA flatbed, converted to use as a... school bus?
https://x.com/jaquitafalana/status/1807116763588350235
*imagine riding to school in that contraption. Act up and the driver could hit some road ditches to bounce you around the planks until you calmed the hell down.
Old Boy some years later, checking out some kind of problem with his 1926-27 Ford T coupe. I think he did a little creative talking to get lower-tax Texas Farm Truck plates for it, which I think are from 1948.
https://x.com/jaquitafalana/status/1807116765631295583
Back when Old Boy was Young Boy, he took his new bride and a gaggle of womenfolk to a fair, and came home with this souvenir photo-graph in a genuine newfangled automobile. This one I thiiink is a 1911 EMF (predecessor of Studebaker).
https://x.com/jaquitafalana/status/1807116767455515097
*keeping more of the Falana fam photos in reserve for future episodes. Great stuff!
Another one of those souvenir fair photos, but instead of a newfangled car it's an oldfangled 1-horsepower buggy. Well, 1 horsepower before the the taxidermist stuffed it. Fashion suggests late 1920s to early 1930s.
https://x.com/KristinnFR/status/1807147738435293304
Check out these delightful dames getting ready to party in our second 1926-27 Ford Model T coupe of the thread. Extra points for the 2 in the trunk , making their own makeshift rumble seat.
https://x.com/z12z21/status/1807070279346118810
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