What kind of gas stations...

FriscoCharlie Oct 5, 2015

  1. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    Those were a very heavy car. Must be unbelievably sl-o-o-o-w-w. I'll bet the flathead six was bigger than the 258.
     
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  2. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    According to Wiki the 258 was a whole 8 cu. in. larger. Probably more HP but maybe not more torque. Not sure why someone would of put that engine in the car. Besides the looks that for some reason I liked, I was interested in the fact that it was heavy and had a long wheelbase. I collected a frontend with power steering and disc brakes, a 5.7 '96 Chevy Vortec engine, a heavy duty 80LE transmission and a ford 9 inch rear to put in the car. Was going to use it to pull my '26 foot sailboat that with the trailer and other gear was over 4000 lb.

    The car was in Branson, MO where my folks lived in a lot with about 50-60 other '40's, 50's and 60's cars at a guys house that were all complete but not restored. I'd visit from Utah and saw the car over a couple different years before taking a trailer along for one trip and bringing it home to Utah.

    Sumner
     
  3. Mike VE2TRV

    Mike VE2TRV TrainBoard Member

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    Wow... that tough old bird has a lot of history in it. The EAA did a fantastic job of restoring it to flying condition.:)

    The old jingle resurfaces in my memory: "Have you flown a Fooooord...lately?" :D
     
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  4. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    The sound of that Ford Tri-Motor is fascinating. Living just northwest of the EAA in Oshkosh, WI I get to see a lot of interesting planes.
     
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  5. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    That would have been a sweet project and perfect for the intended purpose.
     
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  6. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Seven paying passengers without gasoline eating up the profit margin in an era before urban expressways.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    In the limo version like mine and above the rear seat sets way back and there are two jump seats behind the front seats that fold up and down so seven passengers is a tight option. They were also used in Hollywood to ferry actors back and forth out to move sets. Probably only 300-400 made in '51 so pretty rare as I'll bet a lot of those got crushed.

    Thanks for the picture, very cool. If I would of finished mine and seen that picture I might of considered copying it with mabe ....

    [​IMG]

    ... a change to the paint scheme (didn't spend time getting the color to match quite right),

    Sumner
     
  8. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Is it? The term "airport limousine" is kind of a misnomer. According to Chrysler at the time (and they weren't the only ones) the limousine had a divider window behind the front seat. A great many Crown Imperials were divided limousines. But most of the long DeSotos and Dodges were "seven passenger sedans" (not counting the driver), according to company nomenclature.

    [​IMG]

    By that logic, airport limousines, which were rarely divided, were eight passenger or eleven passenger sedans, and very few funeral homes ever had limos. But few people were as picky about how they use the word as the manufacturers used to be.
     
  9. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I guess it is up to the individual what you want to call it but I've seen the term 'Limo' used to describe it many places so feel that it can be used but to be absolutely correct it should probably be described as a Desoto Suburban ....

    https://www.google.com/search?q=195...i57j0i22i30.9617j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

    To me it is basically the car that has been sitting out front for more than 15 years that I didn't work on after getting sidetracked to other car projects, boat projects and now train projects ;).

    Sumner
     
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  10. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Right. But I was referring to official Chrysler designations. In fact, DeSoto was no longer offering a divided "formal limousine" by then, just the eight seat sedan and the Suburban. Yours is the former; a chrome rooftop luggage rack was standard on the latter.

    Those cars were interesting throwbacks to the 1940's, with their smaller trunks and rear-hinged rear doors.
     
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  11. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]

    Mine does have the rooftop luggage rack and optional visor,

    Sumner
     
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  12. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    So it does. And three bench seats, no doubt, not folding jump seats. A Suburban, indeed. I believe those are the rarer model.

    Those enjoyed a fleeting fame when Happy Days was on, though the Cunningham family truckster was older than yours.
     
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  13. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Nope, has the jump seats. I think there probably was a number of options you could choose from but that is a guess,

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2022
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  14. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    That's very interesting. I don't think it's a Suburban. The luggage rack could have been optional on the eight seater, but the three benches were an integral part of the Suburban from the beginning to the end. That seems to be the basic difference between the two.

    [​IMG]

    I think that must be the long sedan popular with taxi companies and funeral homes on a budget, which either got ordered with the rack or got it later.

    Though there were customers for these nationwide, there weren't many. New York taxi companies bought most of them. A change in city law killed the model. Up until about the time yours was built, NYC required the extra seats or you didn't get a medallion. The Suburban wasn't popular for taxi duty. The "occasional seats" folded flat, made getting to the back seat easier.

    Very interesting car you have there. Thanks for telling us about her!
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2022
  15. dualgauge

    dualgauge TrainBoard Member

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    Never have heard of Blue Chip Stamps. Sign is under the Signal sign.
     
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  16. Mike VE2TRV

    Mike VE2TRV TrainBoard Member

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    The DeSoto station wagon has a lot of potential. It would make a great camper. There's enough room in the back to set up some sleeping arrangements that are roomy enough so a tall guy like me doesn't need to bend the legs up to fit.:cool:

    Just plain beautiful cars.
     
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  17. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    I got to spend some time in one as a kid at The Planes Of Fame in Chino, CA
     
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  18. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    The EAA convention in Oshkosh had one there about 12 years ago when I still live out in the country. About 20 miles away. It was possible to get a ride but it was too expensive. But I did see it flying overhead a couple times. It was a real treat. It sounds awesome.
    Several biplanes also come and went from a neighborhood airport also. And one even landed at the first airport in Wisconsin just out of Winchester. They wouldn't let us close to it.
     
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  19. Mike VE2TRV

    Mike VE2TRV TrainBoard Member

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    Didn't get to fly in it but got lots of photos of Trans-Canada Air Lines CF-TCC, a 1937 Lockheed Electra (original) that flew for an airline that was founded by... Canadian National!

    TCA had a similar logo to that of CN, with "TCA" replacing "CNR" over the maple leaf.

    Beautiful silver bird:

    IMGP9572crop.JPG

    She took off and made several flyovers to wow the crowd.

    This was back in June 2012 at an event named Wings and Wheels. Lots of vintage planes flew in, and lots of vintage autos too that drove in (if they all filled up with gas at the same time, there would be a gas shortage...:eek:)

    That's for sure! Nothing sounds like a vintage piston aircraft (I did once see and hear the one and only Lancaster bomber when I visited Toronto many years ago - had no camera...:mad: )
     
  20. jamcool

    jamcool TrainBoard Member

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    Blue Chip was the California-based competitor to S&H Green Stamps. They were offered by most of the California grocery chains until the late 70s, the owner eventually a part of Berkshire Hathaway (see, this is railroad themed!)
     
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