Pedal Car Graveyard

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Steve Mays

Ron Bandelier

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Steve Mays

In this five minute video Ron Bandelier gives me a peek at a few of his vintage vehicles: Berkeley B65; 1937 LaFayette Nash Twin 8; 1937 Nash Ambassador Cabriolet; 1927 Model T Ford. The video is pretty janky because I wasn’t expecting to meet Ron and wasn’t prepared for his treasures (only a few shown here). I just whipped out the phone and started recording and snapping photos.

Traveling Vintage Bus Mechanic

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Steve Mays

My friend George has a thing for old buses. He has two, one in better shape than the other. But both need work and they are not the sort of vehicles you can put on a trailer and take to the shop. So George called the “Bus Grease Monkey.“Scott travels all over the country, working on old buses. Appropriately, he travels in an old bus (below). Don’t miss his “How I got in this business” video.

During the time I watched they were working on a wheel. Lots of phone calls trying to find parts for these ancient beasts. And everything is heavy.

I’m old enough to remember when a Greyhound or Trailways bus was a pretty nice way to get somewhere in a time before every man, woman and child had their own car. There are still a lot of these old buses out there. According to traveling bus mechanic, they built them really well until someone figured out they could sell more buses if they engineered in some planned obsolescence.

Update: Okay, I find this amazing. Scott has a very $ucce$ful YouTube channel. And after working his ass off yesterday in the mid-Missouri heat, he uploaded a couple of videos recounting the work he did on George’s video. And I think he was taking question live while streaming the video! Which is very detail and runs 30 minutes. This, my friends, is how you build a huge YouTube audience.

Royal Enfield Motorcyle

Posted on September 7, 2019 by Steve Mays

This is Dan astride his Royal Enfield motorcycle. Dan’s a big guy and the motorcycle is smaller than the big Harleys and BMWs most of the regulars ride. He’s ridden them all and likes the Enfield a lot. More affordable than other brands.

Old International Harvester Pickup

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Steve Mays

Dropped the pickup truck off at the auto glass place this morning and spotted this beauty. Should have looked around for the owner but Barb was waiting for me. Will try get the story.

1960 Continental Mark V

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Steve Mays

Paul Bandelier’s latest project is a 1960 Continental Mark V. The Wikipedia entry confused me because it said the Mark V was made between 1977 and 1979. Car nerd that Paul is, he immediately provided the following explanation:

The 1956 Continental Mark II was it’s own unique car company that was supposed to capture the glamour of the 1940’s Continentals. The Mark II was the most expensive car in the world short of a certain Rolls Royce model.

After 1957 the Continental car company was liquidated and and for 1958 in an attempt to sell more cars the top of the line trim level was a Mark III. The same top tier trim level applied to the 1959 Mark IV and 1960 Mark V. This move may have sold a few more car but it also diluted the uniqueness of the 56/57 Mark II that was it’s own car company.

Fast forward to 1969. Lincoln says, we were just kidding about those big old 4 door boats being the exclusive Mark series. We’re going to start over and make the Mark series a unique 2 door personal luxury car again. Sooo in 69 we have the Mark III. That lasted until 71. In 72 there was a restyled Mark IV until the next body style change over and so on.

These photos don’t begin to capture the size of this monster. The seats are like large, living room sofas.

Paul shared another bit of trivia about these slanted rear windows but I can’t recall it.

I asked who might be a buyer for this baby when he gets it up to snuff and was surprised to learn the Scandinavian countries are the top market. For some reason, they love big old American cars.

Bay Area pickups

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Steve Mays

Richard Handlen (an old friend who lives in the Bay Area) shares my love for old pickup trucks and shared a couple of photos.

He spotted this beauty (above) at the Green River Brewing & Taproom Car Show in Winters, CA.

And he found this monster at the Napa Porchfest (blocks and blocks of singers and bands, performing from yards and porches.

1963 I-H Scout

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Steve Mays

Chuck Vaughn found this beauty in a field near Lohman, Missouri. Paid $600. These photos don’t do justice to his beautiful restoration. “Before” photo below.