The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 06-09-2010, 10:19 AM

About ten years ago, I was browsing a street vendor's merch in Rosarito Mexico. By pure chance, I found a post card featuring the image above (and below in higher resolution). The back of the card simply read, "III La PanAmericana." That's all I ...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

BJR · 06-09-2010, 10:44 AM

Looks like 1949 Buick ventiports on the rear fender.

21tat · 06-09-2010, 10:44 AM

Love the pilot's helmet.

Jarzenhotrods · 06-09-2010, 10:44 AM

Wow...A lot of "interesting" things going on there. Looks like the canopy is form a WWII fighter. Besides that I dont know. Im intrested to see the back more.

flamingokid · 06-09-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarzenhotrods

Wow...A lot of "interesting" things going on there. Looks like the canopy is form a WWII fighter. Besides that I dont know. Im intrested to see the back more.

That was my thinking,too.That's just way cool.

**Chuckles Garage** · 06-09-2010, 10:51 AM

That's quite the assortment of parts right there.

G V Gordon · 06-09-2010, 10:56 AM

So instead of "shotgun" you would call "tail gunner"? I think I see a vent pipe on the left rear fender, so I am assuming it is equipped with a crapper, for those long stretches when you just don't have time to stop. "Pilot to co-pilot, take over I gotta hit the head".

froghawk · 06-09-2010, 11:03 AM

This car is very bizarre to say the least...

Canopy's from a Consolidated-Vultee BT-13 Trainer...

Here's a pic of the front from the Life magazine photo archive. Looks like the front end's based on late '40s Lincoln (with plenty of other bits!)

**Stutz** · 06-09-2010, 11:14 AM

Wow that thing means business. And if thats the front that froghawk posted, that thing was a serious creation with a crap load of work. Man we need more photos.

Theo Douglas · 06-09-2010, 11:20 AM

Best part of all--that canopy boosts the cruising altitude to at least 10,000 feet!

Seriously, though, a TON of work went into this thing.

Not sure if it was north or south of the border, but based on Sled's amazing ongoing catalog of cars he finds in Mexico--and also the fact that the Orbitron survived--I'm making a prediction:

This thing is probably still down there, somewhere, unless it drove off a cliff, or went down under enemy fire, or was donated to the Smithsonian by Jimmy Doolittle's heirs.

The jokes write themselves ... .

White Brothers · 06-09-2010, 11:35 AM

I see a lot of 49-51is Ford trim and accessories!! I would call it the J.C. Whitney PanAmericana Esp.

froghawk · 06-09-2010, 11:33 AM

Apparently there's a 1/43th scale diecast kit of it...

A google search for "carrera panamericana 1953 lincoln cadillac special" turns up one full shot of the actual car but I couldn't access it.

Sure would like to know more details about this one...

**Ryan** · 06-09-2010, 11:35 AM

uh... wow.... who knew?

KrisKustomPaint · 06-09-2010, 12:10 PM

I got it one piece at a time, and it didn't cost me a dime.

50Fraud · 06-09-2010, 12:23 PM

I remember the rear 3/4 picture from publications back in the day, but I've never seen the front before. Amazing!

**Slim Pickens** · 06-09-2010, 12:26 PM

I wanna be the tail gunner! Thanks Ryan. Slim

64 Wildcat · 06-09-2010, 02:47 PM

Ijole! Uno carro loco esto! I think it's amazing that there's a model of this piece of Mexican madness.

As a kid, I thought the Carrera was one of the wildest races ever conceived - I've seen some great footage of the event over the years. It's too bad the terrific cost of lives of so many participants ended it.

G V Gordon · 06-09-2010, 02:54 PM

Not too hard to believe, there were models of the 1950 Caddilac La Monstre that ran at Le Mans in 1950.

Don't laugh too hard, it finishied 11th.

64 Wildcat · 06-09-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G V Gordon

Not too hard to believe, there were models of the 1950 Caddilac La Monstre that ran at Le Mans in 1950.

Don't laugh too hard, it finishied 11th.

I wouldn't; Briggs was a personal friend and I always admired his exploits. Obviously, a model maker had decided that some of these weird and wonderful machines were worthy of replication, which I think is pretty damned cool.

**nagramos** · 06-09-2010, 03:09 PM

Amazing work. Batman should call Barris and ask for a better automobile.

There's a nice pic in Flickr but we can't see it:

Also found this link in a diecast forum that says:

"The car was really a special based on Lincoln and Cadillac, with an aircraft canopy. The official entry list shows this car entered as the "Ham Special", and was entered by Jose Ham Gunam and Armando Santamaria of Mexico.

The car did finish the race, but took longer than the class limit on time."

06-09-2010, 10:19 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,604	III La PanAmericana About ten years ago, I was browsing a street vendor's merch in Rosarito Mexico. By pure chance, I found a post card featuring the image above (and below in higher resolution). The back of the card simply read, "III La PanAmericana." That's all I ... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

06-09-2010, 10:44 AM	#2
BJR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,521	Re: III La PanAmericana Looks like 1949 Buick ventiports on the rear fender.

06-09-2010, 10:44 AM	#3
21tat Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 831	Re: III La PanAmericana Love the pilot's helmet. __________________ http://www.studio21tattoo.com

06-09-2010, 10:44 AM	#4
Jarzenhotrods Alliance Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: ....... Posts: 838	Re: III La PanAmericana Wow...A lot of "interesting" things going on there. Looks like the canopy is form a WWII fighter. Besides that I dont know. Im intrested to see the back more.

06-09-2010, 10:51 AM	#6
Chuckles Garage Alliance Vendor Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 2,369	Re: III La PanAmericana That's quite the assortment of parts right there. __________________ "Strange Bird" 62 Falcon Futura Blown Injected NAILHEAD Powered A/GS Build BLOG WEBSITE

06-09-2010, 10:56 AM	#7
G V Gordon Old School HAMBer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Enid OK Posts: 4,836	Re: III La PanAmericana So instead of "shotgun" you would call "tail gunner"? I think I see a vent pipe on the left rear fender, so I am assuming it is equipped with a crapper, for those long stretches when you just don't have time to stop. "Pilot to co-pilot, take over I gotta hit the head". __________________ Vagabonds / Oklahoma www.vagabonds.cc http://www.pinheadlounge.com/gvgordon Are fake bull scrotums on Chrysler produced pickup trucks considered "Dodge Balls" Last edited by G V Gordon; 06-09-2010 at 11:07 AM.

06-09-2010, 11:03 AM	#8
froghawk Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 500	Re: III La PanAmericana This car is very bizarre to say the least... Canopy's from a Consolidated-Vultee BT-13 Trainer... Here's a pic of the front from the Life magazine photo archive. Looks like the front end's based on late '40s Lincoln (with plenty of other bits!) Attached Thumbnails __________________ *froghawk* aka John Goschke

06-09-2010, 11:14 AM	#9
Stutz Alliance Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 307 Wyoming Posts: 1,722	Re: III La PanAmericana Wow that thing means business. And if thats the front that froghawk posted, that thing was a serious creation with a crap load of work. Man we need more photos. __________________ The "Captain" 1930 Model A Build Need E&J Type 20's...

06-09-2010, 11:20 AM	#10
Theo Douglas Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Long Beach, CA, USA Posts: 812	Re: III La PanAmericana Best part of all--that canopy boosts the cruising altitude to at least 10,000 feet! Seriously, though, a TON of work went into this thing. Not sure if it was north or south of the border, but based on Sled's amazing ongoing catalog of cars he finds in Mexico--and also the fact that the Orbitron survived--I'm making a prediction: This thing is probably still down there, somewhere, unless it drove off a cliff, or went down under enemy fire, or was donated to the Smithsonian by Jimmy Doolittle's heirs. The jokes write themselves ... .

06-09-2010, 11:35 AM	#11
White Brothers Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Indiana, by way of Tejas Posts: 558	Re: III La PanAmericana I see a lot of 49-51is Ford trim and accessories!! I would call it the J.C. Whitney PanAmericana Esp. __________________ Having trouble figuring out "how-to"? Join the Little Pages Tech Archive

06-09-2010, 11:33 AM	#12
froghawk Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 500	Re: III La PanAmericana Apparently there's a 1/43th scale diecast kit of it... A google search for "carrera panamericana 1953 lincoln cadillac special" turns up one full shot of the actual car but I couldn't access it. Sure would like to know more details about this one... __________________ *froghawk* aka John Goschke

06-09-2010, 11:35 AM	#13
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,604	Re: III La PanAmericana uh... wow.... who knew? __________________ Ryan Cochran "Skating the same line since 1976..." .................................................. .... www.jalopyjournal.com - www.garagejournal.com - www.gearjournal.com - www.fordbarn.com - www.DOGFIGHTmag.com

06-09-2010, 12:10 PM	#14
KrisKustomPaint Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rhineland, MO Posts: 1,075	Re: III La PanAmericana I got it one piece at a time, and it didn't cost me a dime.

06-09-2010, 12:23 PM	#15
50Fraud Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Pedro, CA Posts: 5,682	Re: III La PanAmericana I remember the rear 3/4 picture from publications back in the day, but I've never seen the front before. Amazing!

06-09-2010, 12:26 PM	#16
Slim Pickens Alliance Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Posts: 3,305	Re: III La PanAmericana I wanna be the tail gunner! Thanks Ryan. Slim __________________ http://backstreetwheels.blogspot.com/ November, 2012 UPDATED my BLOG My other site. www.rtoonkel.com

06-09-2010, 02:47 PM	#17
64 Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,035	Re: III La PanAmericana Ijole! Uno carro loco esto! I think it's amazing that there's a model of this piece of Mexican madness. As a kid, I thought the Carrera was one of the wildest races ever conceived - I've seen some great footage of the event over the years. It's too bad the terrific cost of lives of so many participants ended it. __________________ There's no substitute for Buick inches! Last edited by 64 Wildcat; 06-09-2010 at 04:35 PM.

06-09-2010, 02:54 PM	#18
G V Gordon Old School HAMBer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Enid OK Posts: 4,836	Re: III La PanAmericana Not too hard to believe, there were models of the 1950 Caddilac La Monstre that ran at Le Mans in 1950. Don't laugh too hard, it finishied 11th. __________________ Vagabonds / Oklahoma www.vagabonds.cc http://www.pinheadlounge.com/gvgordon Are fake bull scrotums on Chrysler produced pickup trucks considered "Dodge Balls"

06-09-2010, 03:09 PM	#20
nagramos Alliance Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 47	Re: III La PanAmericana Amazing work. Batman should call Barris and ask for a better automobile. There's a nice pic in Flickr but we can't see it: Also found this link in a diecast forum that says: "The car was really a special based on Lincoln and Cadillac, with an aircraft canopy. The official entry list shows this car entered as the "Ham Special", and was entered by Jose Ham Gunam and Armando Santamaria of Mexico. The car did finish the race, but took longer than the class limit on time." __________________ http://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/

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