When They Were Real Steel……Part V

# 41

I saw this little 1966 Mercury Comet up in Star for $500.00 in 1990, and couldn't pass it up.  It had a fine running little "289" V-8 in it, and a C-4 automatic transmission with a Fairbanks Shift-Kit.  I wish you could still pick up cars like this today for that kind of money, but "not anymore!"

# 42

$500.00 would also get you cars like this '71 Ford Maverick 2-door coupe.  The interior was a little shabby & the paint was faded, but what attracted me to THIS one, was the power-to-weight ratio.  The Maverick was lighter than the Mustang, and the "250" in-line-6 was bigger than any six you could get in a Mustang, so it went down the road really well!

# 43

Here's one you DEFINITELY do not see everyday, a 1949 Crosley station wagon.  It had an in-line 4-cylinder of only 44 cubic inches.  (Crosleys used to make radios and refrigerators-----and from 1947 to 1952 they figured they TOO could build a car!)

Try going into Schuck's or AutoZone looking for PARTS for one, though!

# 44

This 1962 Ford Falcon Econoline van was my idea of an early 90's "SUV", except a whole lot easier to work on.  With the "doghouse" cover off, I had complete access to that little "144" cubic inch in-line 6.

# 45

Along about that time, a guy up in Middleton had this 1953 Mercury Monterey for sale.  Had a really fine-running old "255" Flathead V-8, 3 on the tree, w/Overdrive.  He wanted $1,000.00, which was fine with me!

From its inception in 1932, the old Ford Flathead V-8's were rugged, reliable and simple.  throughout the 50's, the Ford engines were 239's and the Mercury motors were 255's (to "compensate" for the extra weight of the Merc's).   1953 was the last year for them, though, as Ford was going to an overhead design.

# 46

This '68 Ford Mustang was another one of those deals "too good to pass up on."  200 cubic inch-6 (like that other Mustang BEFORE it), but this one had a C-4 Automatic behind it.  Most Mustangs were small-block V-8's, but both of mine were 6's, and both Mustangs Donna has today are 6's........but in a lightweight car, a six is PLENTY, easier to work on, and good on gas......which means a lot today!

# 47

THIS was a MISTAKE!  A guy up in Midvale had this '68 Datsun Fairlady convertible, had blown the head gasket and wanted to trade me for the Crosley......."SEEMED like a good idea at the time."  When I got it home and tore the motor down though, I found that he'd gotten it so hot, I ended up trying to track down parts that nobody had.

Well, after 46 cars, you've gotta make a bad "horse-trade" SOMEWHERE in your life!  "Number 47" was MINE!

# 48

But I made up for it on my NEXT "horse trade".  My buddy Harvey had just got this very nice '68 Ford LTD, with a recently-rebuilt big-block "390" in it........This is a "Mikey" kind of car.....a roomy, comfortable cruiser , 4,000 lbs "on the hoof" and a big honkin' V-8!  He'd been looking for something for his older daughter, so I offered to trade the Mustang for it straight-across.

The trade was perfect both ways.   Girls like Mustangs, and his daughter could afford to feed a little 6-cylinder!  On MY side of it,  a Ford LTD is a sheer delight on a long trip, that big V-8 making short work of the longest grades, and 500 miles later, you get out of the car and you aren't sore from one end to the other.  It was a good trade!

# 49

Not exactly a common sight around Mountain Home (or anywhere else), was this 1953 Kaiser Manhattan that I bought for $400.00 from a guy I worked with.  It had sat under a tree for several years, but the motor WOULD turn over, so after draining all the old gas out of the tank and rebuilding the carburetor to get the "varnish" out of IT as well, it didn't take very much more to get that old "226" flathead-6 running like a fine Swiss watch.  It had a "Hydramatic" tranny too, and the car drew attention whenever I drove it.......mostly, nobody could figure out what it was!

# 50

You know, as time drew near, I'd always figured my 50th car should be something really special.  But "need" overcame desire, and I needed a truck more than I needed anything else at the time........so..........that "Golden Fiftieth" ended up being a 1959 Chevrolet Apache half-ton flatbed pickup!  (It RAN a whole lot better than it looked!).  It had Chevy's best-known 6 EVER, the little "235", with a 4-speed manual transmission behind it.

Although I'm very much at home with vehicles like this, Part VI and "beyond" will feature some prettier stuff...........still OLD, just prettier.