Taking a break

Hello readers, we are taking a temporary break from publishing new material here.

But don't worry, we will be back, with great pictures and car ads!


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Crimson and Clover: 1947 Ford Truck Restoration Project, $2500

After an accidental one-week absence, Vintage Truck Friday Night has returned. Today, we have a 1947 Ford truck with a color scheme reminding the author of a popular oldies song.

This 1947 Ford pickup project's mixture of red, green and red-oxide primer paint colors got that good old song Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells going in my head, so that title became the heading of this post.

The truck is in better than average condition for a well-used 63-year-old truck, and appears complete with the exception of the gearshift knob, original bumpers and taillights, the tailgate and passenger's-side inside door handle, all of which are readily available in reproduction form. Oddly, all four hubcaps are still present despite the shift knob and inside door handle being gone, considering that they could easily have been stolen or destroyed in its long existence. There appears to be little rust, although Bond-O and riveted sheetmetal patch panels may be issues here. The styling of these trucks is very nice, and this appears to be an easy project. The flathead V8 is still present, but no word on whether it runs. The transmission is said to be a 5-speed, but is probably a 3-speed or a 4-speed and erroneously called a 5-speed due to that configuration's ubiquity in sporting and economy cars today and/or the owner not knowing the gear configuration. One thing's for sure about the transmission, it's definitely a manual. The period-correct aftermarket turn signals add safety while keeping the truck's appearance close to how it might have looked when new. The price of $2500, the simple nature of early V8 (1932-48) Ford engineering, and the large variety of reproduction parts make this an attractive proposition for restoration, especially for a novice or someone looking for a straightforward project.

Find this project here in Chewelah, Washington:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1559350874.html

French Exotic Duet: Two 1979 Matra-Simca Bagheeras

To all you fans of obscure European sports cars, here's something to get your heart racing, particularly if French cars are more to your taste than German, Italian, Swedish or British ones. In Madison, Wisconsin, someone is selling two 1979 Matra-Simca Bagheeras, which are unusual in many ways, such as having three-abreast seating, being named for the panther in Rudyard Kipling's classic novel The Jungle Book, and being rare grey-market imports as opposed to the slightly more common full Euro-spec Bagheeras imported on an individual basis by enthusiasts. (However, I must say that no Bagheera is 'common', anywhere.) 

While the second car is not pictured, the blue one featured here is said to have very little rust in the monocoque-style steel understructure (the body panels are made of polyester plastic and thus don't rust), has a very good interior and a clear Wisconsin title. Molds for the special US-spec bumpers are included, along with 8 finished units. However, it is not said how many are front or rear. The black car is said to have nearly enough parts to complete the blue car, or could be brought back to life by a dedicated enthusiast, but there are no carburetors or intake manifolds for either car.

The seller also includes free technical and parts assistance from a North American Matra Registry member and Bagheera owner, and makes mentions of an "M550 factory code" and the importer Geo. (George?) Goodrich of Santa Clara, California, neither of which I could find any information on via a Google search. If any readers know about the "M550 code" and/or Mr. Goodrich, please leave a comment. 

Find these cars here:

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/1550141932.html

More Street Shots: From Decomposing Hippie Busses to a Fiat 1100

1940s Reo school bus, converted to motorhome. This bus appears to have been there for many years, and is slowly returning to the earth.

Close-up of Reo bus' front end. Notice that the bonnet has fallen off and the engine has been overtaken by blackberry vines.

Late 60s Chevrolet school bus, also returning to the earth. This bus has evidently been sitting in the same spot since the early 90s, and a pole thicket has grown up around it.

Front of Chevrolet school bus. For the record, I did not trespass onto the property, I just used my camera's zoom lens to take a closer look at the bus.

1961 Volvo 122S Amazon, front view. The originality of this vehicle is impressive, and it would be very well worth restoring.

Volvo Amazon 122S, side view. Notice the PV544-style hubcaps, which are original.

Inside of Volvo Amazon. Restoration is definitely in order, but everything looks good. Notice that the radio opening has not been cut out to install a modern sound system.

Rear view of Volvo Amazon.

Circa-1959 Fiat 1100. This was once a very nice-looking little car, but has suffered gross neglect and even a gunshot to the windshield.

Not a Gordini: 1964 Renault R8 Project Car, $1200

I admire the honesty of this car's seller in stating that it is not a Gordini, hence the title of this post.  This 1964 Renault R8, while somewhat dinged up and disheveled, appears to be a good restoration project, has good glass and appears very complete and original with the exception of the steering wheel and roof rack. I like the styling of this car and the subsequent R10 better than the Dauphine which preceded them, but not as much as I like the quirky and overtly French appearance of the 4CV. The seller states that s/he will only sell to a Renault enthusiast, which will hopefully rule out the scrap-metal dealers, parts pullers, car hoarders and 24 Hours of LeMons and ChumpCar racers. 

Another especially appealing (or unattractive, depending on one's point of view) feature of the Renault R8 is how the designers of the instrument panel made it bear an uncanny resemblance to the front of a bookcase stereo receiver dating to the Reagan administration when it is actually the speedometer and gauges of a car built when DeGaulle was president of France and the car was imported to the US and sold new during the Johnson administration, well before rectangular black plastic stereo equipment reached ubiquity. 

The asking price of $1200 is quite reasonable considering that one can find the less desirable Dauphine in similar or worse condition than this car for more money on eBay more often than one can find any kind of R8 there at any price.

 Find this car here, in Corvallis, Oregon: 

http://corvallis.craigslist.org/cto/1551477306.html