Hot Rods What you see today??

Nor-Cal

 

At cruise night last night, fairly good turnout considering a 110-degree temp.

 

Hello,

We usually see 4 door Ford Station Wagons if we see any old wagons. So, when a 1962 Mercury Station Wagon is parked in a lot, it automatically caught my eye. The dark green paint color was very nice and the rolled on wood sides did not have any scratches. So, care has been taken to preserve such a cool station wagon.

It had the classic style with chrome rims and small center hubcaps. Skinny whitewalls worked its way into the look, so popular back during this time period. Not wide whites, but skinny whitewall tires.

Jnaki

Overall, it was a nice looking mild custom waiting its turn to go cruising or running parts for the business behind the tailgate. YRMV

Years earlier, same parking lot? Same business owner?

 

1963 Mercury Monterey

Hello,


There are some old cars rolling around in the coastal locations, as if it was 1963. In all of the cars parked in a popular grocery store parking lot, this 1963 Mercury Monterey hardtop sedan was the coolest in the lot, bar none. It had the one thing we all wanted in a sedan top. A perfect opening for a surfboard without racks or opening the trunk.

Yes, the interior seating would be as if it was a limousine with the friends in the back. Ha! But, one would not get the exhaust smoke rolling back into the car with the window open, like in some old station wagons.

A 62 year old car out for a cruise and some shopping on a sunny day. All of the “coolness” with the modern conveniences to ward off the “warmth of the sun…” AC vs cell phone helper. YRMV

Jnaki



On this day, if the 1963 Mercury drove down to the ocean, it would have melted into the water color along the shoreline. The sun was out for once and the ocean had the tropical color of blue that fit the comparison… YRMV

 

Funny thing... went to an Air Show today, and a car show broke out.

 

At the monthly cruise in today

 

We'll call this a @Moriarity lite

 

Wasn't this car added to this thread earlier today? It must have gotten deleted because of the O/T trucks in the background..

Larry

 

Best part is, it will be deleted again.

 

At cruise night tonight.

 

Hello,

It is most interesting when my wife and I are out running errands. She is now so accustomed to seeing old cars and trucks. I am concentrating on driving to get to the next stop, and as part of the normal driving mode, scanning all around for others doing crazy things. My wife, on the other hand has a clear front window and side window to see the world as we do our errands.

So, she sees a colorful old sedan up ahead and says… “there is a neat old car ahead.” Now, I take a fast look in the direction I see some color. Yes, sure enough, it is a 53-54 Buick two door hardtop.

Ever since those old days of going to some of our favorite diners back in the days before the pandemic hit, she had a favorite old car that she was anxious to add to the daily driver mode. Despite the weather playing tricks on us locally with 6 hours of heavy rain and lightning(yesterday), those convertibles still hit the heart like a deep throb.

It was hard to keep my wife from offering a sum of money to this owner of the Tahitian Red or Candy Apple Red color Buick Skylark we saw up close and personal, outside of a popular diner in Lido Isle. It was the sister of the same style Buick sedan we saw recently.

Jnaki

Back in 1952, our dad rolled up to our house in a big giant 4 door two toned, Buick sedan. It did not look like his old black 1949 4 door Roadmaster, but he was 1 year early in his 4 year plan to buy Buicks as they came out. He never explained, other than, he liked the new two toned version. Again, it was a big car. The two small brothers still had plenty of room in the back seat to mess around and store our stuff on trips.

(this Buick got stuck in a 2 foot deep ditch 150 miles south of the Baja/USA border on a fishing trip.)

My brother and I were into reading every car magazine we could get our hands on by this time. We liked the hot rods and early customs. We were trying to find out how to make our dad’s big Buick better looking. We immediately thought of chrome reversed rims, but my dad was not into customizing his daily driver.

In 1953, we took another route and show our mom pictures of the new 53 Buick Skylark that just came out and was in the local Buick dealer’s showroom floor. She immediately liked that car, including those custom Kelsey Hayes wire wheels. She kept the brochure as we walked around the beautiful car in the showroom display. We never had a convertible, but my mom fell in love with this Skylark.

My dad was looking, but declined to get the Skylark. His excuse was he just bought the 1953 two toned sedan and the Skylark was not under the 4 year plan for more Buick purchases. We all left, not happy.

Note:

Jump up to 1963-64 and we were finished with drag racing the 58 Impala and our thoughts were to do some changes as money would allow. My first thought was the car was fast enough, so some outside custom touches would put a cap on the look of this black sedan. A friend had a set of 5 Buick Skylark Wire Wheels for sale. The price was too good to pass up. I knew that I had to change over the axle bolts and pattern from stock (Chevy to Buick) to make these wires fit the Impala.

So, they were changed over and the chromed Buick wires were mounted, balanced and aligned to roll smoothly. Custom balancing was difficult as the wires had to be tightened down and the tires trued to make it roll correctly. As difficult as the makeover was, the car was beautiful with the new Buick Skylark Wire Wheels. I was very happy and the car made a huge hit at the local drive-in cruises.
Thanks to @themoose for the great make over on our old 58 Impala with the Buick Wire Wheels. We had no camera documentation from back in 1963-64. Those wheels made the 58 Impala so much nicer. It was as if the wire wheels were made for the Impala from the factory, after all, it was a GM car.YRMV
So, the moral of the story was that these Buick Skylark wire wheels by Kelsey Hayes can and will make any car look its best. There was no other option for our Impala. But, to make your Buick look better, there is no other choice…IMHO. With your changes, it is a custom Buick, after all.
We recently saw a beautiful 53 Buick Skylark in Newport Beach and instantly brought those “wire wheels as custom memories” back in a rush. This was one beautiful Buick Skylark built for cruising So Cal in all of its glory. (Top down driving at its best.) At the time of the photos, it was one of those 85 degree days down by the beach.

“another (brother) sister from another mother… “

 

Truckee, CA

 

most rides OT Dreams & Drivers Cars & Coffee

 

Lake Tahoe

 

Sitting at a local burger place in Lexington, KY. Still had the Street Rod Nationals sticker in the window from last weekend.

 

Saw this getting loaded on a transport truck last friday. Driver said it was headed to the Boston Mass area from Texas.

 

Hello,

A red primer 32 sedan without any fenders? An old hot rod look that fits well in the current days. The wheels stand out, although the sedan may be a little heavy for those front spokes. But, the rear wheels are outstanding and fit quite well.

As an old hot rod guy from the 50s to current days, a little front end rake would be almost perfect with the current stance and finish. The noticeable thing is the 32 sedan body and the swept back grille of the 33-34 model. Quite nice actually. No more big air-blocking grille in front, straight up and down. At least, it is a little more streamlined with the 33-34 grille housing. Then, where are those fenders? or Rake?

Jnaki

But, perhaps the full fender approach is in the works and would look quite nice in the current stance. It is nice to build something different than the others... Which reminds me of : "One of these guys is doing his own thing..."

This sedan will make folks turn their heads wondering where those front opening doors of the 33-34 sedan went…YRMV

 

Bad cellphone pics, it sounded good.

 

Hey LM,
You are right. Upon closer inspection of the sedan, it is close, but not exactly as a 32 Ford Sedan. Thanks for the ID.

Also, I went back to the day I saw this sedan and guess where it was parked? It was in front of an old Chevy Obsolete Parts Storefront that has the big inventory of old Chevy parts. Duh... why did I not remember that photo and background at the beginning? It must be the "old age" thingy... my wife keeps talking about...HA!

Jnaki

I had to take a quick photo as I was driving and watching out for traffic. My wife was nervous down this street as it was fairly busy for the location. YRMV