When you think about it, it's almost as if the car manufacturers marketed certain components for one year, just to drive hot rodders nuts decades after the fact when searching for such items. A few examples: The Cadillac/Lasalle three speed transmission that would become a hot rodder's favorite. Debuted in '37 with a floor shifter, went to column shift in '38. Same transmission design for Oldsmobile V8s, except with a shorter tailstock. Debuted in 1950, replaced by the oddball selector transmission the following year, making the corresponding bell housing a one year item as well. Chevrolet 261 cubic inch six cylinder engine. Debuted in '54, and Chevrolet redesigned their six cylinder blocks in '55 with changes to the water pump mounting, as well as engine mount bosses, making the '54 engine the ideal candidate for transplanting into earlier vehicles. Early Chrysler 331 hemi intake manifolds. 1954 is the first year for the factory four barrel intake, but the last year that used the water crossover in the manifold casting as opposed to the dry intake manifold that Chrysler went with the following year. 1952 Buick 320 cubic inch straight eight. Last year of the engine design, first year of the four barrel carburetor. What else?
Sexy dashboards , gauges and steering wheels. Lets say 1930 /1932 Lincoln, Cadillac, Chrysler. Then the art-deco style from Hudson and Essex.
Just thought of another one; a four barrel intake manifold for a Buick 300 V8. Only available in '64-'65, and the two don't interchange.
How about almost EVERY part for a '32 Ford...one year only...and then throw in a couple scarce body styles (3 window, rdstr pickup etc.) and those obscure "one year only " parts get even scarcer.
I've had 2 31/32 Auburn dash's, 3 31 Cadillac dash's and 1 32 Lincoln dash over the years. Always liked putting them in the various 32's I built.
Ah, yes, the one year nailhead Q-jet manifold. I remember buying one at a swap meet for ten bucks about 20 years ago...didn't even attempt to knock him down on the price!
Eelco 6-hole die cast aluminum dash. While reproducing Ed Roth's Mysterion, I could never figure out what he used for a dash. I was reconciled to fabricating one in steel and chrome plating it. Then while looking for vintage SW gauges for the project I sttumbled across this ebaY auction. I instantly recognized this as the exact dash he used. I bid plenty to be sure I got it. I have never seen another one before or since this one.
And a second Mysterion gold find. The original had 10x15 Inglewood Pos-A-Traction recap slicks. There are really no reproduction slicks that come close to these. I had zero hope of finding decent vintage ones so was looking at Towl City, Radirs, etc. for a decent alternative. Then I stumbled onto another ebaY auction for this never used set of exact matches except for lack of wide whitewalls. Got them for only $100. They had never been mounted on a wheel!! I added a set of Port-A-Wall whitewall inserts and got an EXACT match.
Some of the small trim stuff, before some of it started getting reproduced. 37 Ford and 39 Chevy pod, 38/9 Ford teardrop, 48-51 Pontiac taillights probably disappeared quickly from wrecked cars. Parts from 1 or 2 year only cars is/was just as bad (or worse) for the Custom builders; 37 Desoto bumpers for your tail dragger 36. 41 Studebaker taillights 49 Plymouth bumpers 54 Pontiac grille bar 53 Buick side trim (49-51 Mercs) 53 Desoto grille and bumpers (49-51 Mercs) 52/53 Kaiser & 49 Chevy bumper license plate over rider 57 Buick grille (57 Chevy) 56 Buick taillight lenses cut down for 55 Chevy (pre Lee aftermarket bubble lenses) 53 Cad Sombrero wheel covers 56 Olds Fiesta wheel covers 57 Dodge Lancer wheel covers 56 Packard taillights 60 Chrysler taillights 58 Edsel station wagon taillights (57 Ford and T-Birds)
The 312 y-block. And the supercharger. How about the 57 MEL 410 super marauder with the triple carbs. Was the most powerful engine for 57 at 400hp. Arguably the best looking air cleaner ever made.
I would like a pair of WWII Buick 40 or 41 Black Out Tail Lights . Even a Reproduction cast Aluminum or 3D printed . with Glass Lens
For a slant 6 enthusiast, the '61-only "Hyper-Pak" setup. Long runner, single four intake, with Carter 4-barrel to match, true split dual exhast manifolds, and a more aggressive cam and lifter package. All dealer installed, and packed into the trunk from the factory. For an aftermarket piece, I'd have to say the Hilborn fuel injection system. (That one I do have, minus a fuel pump.) Roger
There's two of You out there.. h-hee My buddy Gary has a complete setup on his valiant, an I believe another intake/exhaust...
Don't know about "Holy Grail", but I looked for a Carter 3636s (the "trapdoor" 3-barrel) for about 25 years. Found the second one about 15 years later. According to Carter, approximately 24 were produced. I now have 2. Jon.
Heathen - Super Duty Pontiac, yes; built specifically for NASCAR. However, I would suppose some professional drag racers would have tried it as well. Jon.
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