What is Your Favorite Classic American Car?

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

It was the Rocket 88, and there were three that were built for Motor Rama back in the 50's. This one sold for $3.5 million in 2005 and is now in a museum in Colorado. I have a picture of the Pontiac version. And at home I have a couple of photos of one of the buses they built for that tour, that sold for $4.5 million and is now in Chandler Arizona.

Thanks dbacks fan.  I think the Olds version was called the F-85 or F-88, at least that is what I have read in classic car books.  They say the Olds version could have been a good seller if it had been a production model.  Rocket 88 referred to the Old's OHV V-8 engine I believe, but whatever.  Your pictures are great.  I have never seen a pic of the Pontiac version before.  Thanks so much!

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

This place I drive by at least three times a day while I'm going to various sites around town and never know what to expect that he has out by the street. Alot of the cars are original cars. Check out the Studebaker Commander in the 50's section.http://www.steeldreamz.com/

The Raymond Loewy designed Studebakers of the early 1950s were truly gorgeous cars, years ahead of their time.  Too bad Studebaker did not have the financial resources to continue their company and styling innovations.  Seems the really trendsetting auto designs of the past came from the smaller companies, the Studebakers, Hudsons, Packards, etc.  Of course Cadillac and Harley Earl gave us the tail fin, and they kept that relatively tastefull until 1958 when tail fins became an over-the-top example of bad taste.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

It was the Rocket 88, and there were three that were built for Motor Rama back in the 50's. This one sold for $3.5 million in 2005 and is now in a museum in Colorado. I have a picture of the Pontiac version. And at home I have a couple of photos of one of the buses they built for that tour, that sold for $4.5 million and is now in Chandler Arizona.

You're welcome Steve. Here is a link to the Barrett-Jackson website that will give you more info:

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/auctionresults/common/cardetail.asp?id=178112

Thanks dbacks fan.  I think the Olds version was called the F-85 or F-88, at least that is what I have read in classic car books.  They say the Olds version could have been a good seller if it had been a production model.  Rocket 88 referred to the Old's OHV V-8 engine I believe, but whatever.  Your pictures are great.  I have never seen a pic of the Pontiac version before.  Thanks so much!

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

This place I drive by at least three times a day while I'm going to various sites around town and never know what to expect that he has out by the street. Alot of the cars are original cars. Check out the Studebaker Commander in the 50's section.http://www.steeldreamz.com/

The Raymond Loewy designed Studebakers of the early 1950s were truly gorgeous cars, years ahead of their time.  Too bad Studebaker did not have the financial resources to continue their company and styling innovations.  Seems the really trendsetting auto designs of the past came from the smaller companies, the Studebakers, Hudsons, Packards, etc.  Of course Cadillac and Harley Earl gave us the tail fin, and they kept that relatively tastefull until 1958 when tail fins became an over-the-top example of bad taste.

That place puts a smile on my face driving by it. Have yet to go in figuring I would be asked to leave do to excessive drooling.

I found the link to the museum in Colorado and it's open now. They have bought several cars at the Barrett Jackson here in Scottsdale and the one they have in Palm Beach Fla.

A funny story about Studebaker. I worked at Bill White Chevy as a salesman in early 1984, one of the salesman that I worked with was Dick Studebaker, and I cant remeber exactly how but he was related to the car company.

http://www.gatewayautomuseum.com/index.php

[dbacks fan]

This was one of the tour buses/vans that traveled with the Olds F-88 and the Pontiac Bonneville in the 50's.

[dbacks fan]

Here is a shot from the front. It was so heavy they could not drive it on to the auction block. It sold for about $4million to someone that lives in Chandler Arizona just out side of Tempe.

[Dana431]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

Here is a shot from the front. It was so heavy they could not drive it on to the auction block. It sold for about $4million to someone that lives in Chandler Arizona just out side of Tempe.

What a neat piece of history!

[dbacks fan]

More history on the "Futureliner"

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/profiles/2006/April/American/index.html

[bugo]

Way too many to have a single favorite.  I do have a soft spot for my 1962 Ford Galaxie 500, however.  2 door hardtop, 390 big block.  I just need to come up with the cash to restore it.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by Porky

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

Thanks dbacks, I had always heard about this model but I had never seen one. Wonder if it had the straight 6 in it or a V8?

It had a V8, as did all Oldsmobile models in the mid 50s.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by bugo

quote:Originally posted by Porky

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

Thanks dbacks, I had always heard about this model but I had never seen one. Wonder if it had the straight 6 in it or a V8?

It had a V8, as did all Oldsmobile models in the mid 50s.

From what I have read about the Corvette and this, its "sister" Oldsmobile, historians generally concur that had both the Chevy and Olds gone into production in 1953, the Olds would have survived and the Corvette would have quickly died.  The Vette nearly did die anyway, until the introduction of the Chevy V8 in 1955 saved it.

The Olds version was more "American Luxury" and the Chevy was more "European Sports Car" oriented.  The Olds had the Rocket V8 in the prototype and some other neat gadgets for the time like center console mounted radio/window controls, power top, power glass side windows, and was built to a higher luxury level than the Corvette, which had the anemic Chevy "Blue Flame" 6 cylinder engine and I think side curtains instead of glass windows, more in the European sports car fashion.

[Steve]

If money were no object, my personal top 5 list would have to be:

1.  1957-1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham.  My technological favorite, and a darn handsome car to look at too.
2.  1956-1957 Continental Mark II.  My esthetic favorite.  I think there is a Continental Mark II in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.  A gorgeous sculptural masterpiece.
3.  1968 full-sized Chevys (highly optioned Caprice, Impala, Impala SS.)  Georgeous curving lines and proportions, the ultimate in 1960s styling, IMO.  I think the 1963 Buick Rivera deserves honorable mention too, for Bill Mitchell's wonderful styling and influence on future autos.  
4.  1938-1940 Cadillac Sixty Special.  Predicted the future styling of post-war cars.  A real trend setter.
5.  Any 1928-1932 Cadillac or LaSalle for their classic styling, especially the dual-cowl Phaetons.  Magnificent pre-war classic styling.

Why did GM kill off the Oldsmobile division?  Olds was GM's oldest division, rich in history.  Did they feel given sales figures, it was too redundant with Buick & Cadillac?  Personally, I wished they had killed off Buick or Pontiac, and kept Oldsmobile.  Oldsmobile was traditionally the GM division to introduce new technology to the public.  Hydramatic in 1938, front wheel drive in 1966, etc.  I drive an Olds so I guess I am just partial, but I sure hated to see that brand die.

[texasbound]

1970 Plymouth Superbird.  LOVE the Fin!