Automatter

The allure of British roadsters endures

   
  The MG stands for Morris Garage and the octagon shaped badge with those letters within it have been synonymous with the words "sports car," for decades. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Oscar Wilde once defined a cynic as a man who knew the cost of everything and the value of nothing. He might have been hard pressed to figure where to stand on traditional British roadsters, if he'd lived to see them. They've created a lot of automotive cynics, given the costs of operation. Still, how can you put a value on the wind in your hair?

 
Mark Adler ready to hit the road in his 1955 MG-TF 1500. That's a side curtain sticking up in the bodywork behind him - no roll up windows in a true roadster. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  A smile on his face and his wife by his side, you'd have seen Mark Adler driving his green 1955 MG-TF 1500 on a 75 degree day in Seattle, recently. Last month, he drove that same MG to Reno, for the he All MG Register rally and gathering in Reno, Nevada, June 13-17. (Find out more at www.mg2011.com.)

  T-series MG roadsters were made from 1936 to 1955, with a break for the Second World War. The TA and TB were made before the war; and the TC, TD, TF and TF-1500 were made after the war. The engine in the TF-1500 was a 1,466 cc. In-line four cylinder engine that produced 63 block horsepower at 5,000 rpm. The production run for the TF and TF-1500 models was 9,600 made.

 
As British as can be, with right-hand drive, is this MG-TC on display at last year's Kirkand (Washington) Concours D'Elegance. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

   The TF-1500 was the same automobile that caused the man who many called “the dean of automotive journalists,” the late David E. Davis Jr., to have the life-changing experience of his life, back in 1955. He passed away in March, at the age of 80, from complications due to bladder cancer surgery; but when he flipped a TF-1500, while racing, he was lucky to survive.

  It was at a race in Sacramento, California in late October, as David E. recalled in the 25^th anniversary edition of Car and Driver magazine. He was leading the race, when he hit the hay bales – that's what they used on road courses then – in the first turn. The car rolled and caught his head between the back of the seat and the pavement. (Rolls bars wouldn't become mandatory until 1956.) To make things worse, the car slid across the track, upside down. It then hit hay bales on the other side, and challenging credulity, flipped onto its wheels.

  That's when David E. realized that the visor for his helmet was torn and hanging on his right shoulder. He felt his face and realized his nose was gone and his face was a bloody mess. He'd lost both eyelids on the left side of his face, knocked out all but a dozen teeth, suffered over a hundred compound fractures on his upper and lower jaws, and wedged the roof of his mouth into his throat.

  However, the MG had only suffered about 250 dollars worth of damage. David E. went on to become a legend in his own right; so you could say one legend begot another. Still, the next time he raced, in 1958, it would be in a Volvo 444 sedan; provided as part of a Volvo team that went up Pikes Peak.

 The Sacred Octagon – as most MG enthusiasts refer to the MG badge shaped as such – would go on to become legendary in America, before exports to America ceased in 1980.

   But to those enthusiasts, the most desirable MG automobiles don't have roll-up windows, but the side curtains that mark a real roadster; the term was misapplied to a variety of convertible sports cars, in the late 1990s, and the term has lost true meaning to anyone but those who aren't afraid to spend the time to fiddle with side curtains and a manual actuated soft top.

  As MG abandoned the T-series with their low flowing fenders and elemental mechanicals, Austin-Healey, built the “bug-eye” Sprite – another true roadster. When you see one from the front, you know right away from where its name was derived. On the same sunny day that you'd have encountered Mark Adler in his TF-1500, you would have spotted a bug-eye Sprite, down at the south end of the same mall.

Caught in the glow of a setting sun, is this Austin-Healey "bug eye" Sprite, in a parking lot on a perfect day for top-down motoring in Seattle. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)  

  The bug-eye Sprite was produced for three years, starting in 1958. Power was supplied by a 948 cc. In-line four cylinder engine with just 43 block horsepower at 5,200. The number made was just one short of 49,000. It was followed by a more conventional looking roadster – no bug-eyed headlights.

  In an age where many automobiles have become rolling digital entertainment centers, the traditional British roadsters appeal to those who value a visceral experience, based on simple mechanical components and unique exterior design. - Terry Parkhurst

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping tradition alive is the goal of truck collectors

 

 
Dan Morley's 1958 Mack B-75 on display in Issaquah, Washington. Power comes via this rig's original Mack Thermodyne 205 in-line 6 cylinder diesel engine; linked to a triplex transmission. The bulldog sculpture that presaged the iconic hood ornament, was created back in 1932, by then-chief engineer, A.F. Masury. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  A good case could be made for the belief that the truck, especially the pickup truck, did as much to transform America in the 20^th century, as did the Conestoga wagon in the 19^th century. One family-based company – Studebaker - made so many wagons, it later transitioned to making trucks. Two brothers with the last name of Mack, also started out making wagons, and transitioned first to buses, and then trucks. Trucks become a part of people's lives, oftentimes because their livelihoods were connected to them; sometimes it was on farms, or other times, it was on highways or even combat zones.

  A group of people who understand the value of a good truck, and the history behind them, assembled along with those interested in buses and station wagons, at a drive-in, just off of the I90 freeway, in Issaquah, Washington on July third, just before America's birthday. The venue was the XXX Drive-in, which is so named, not because it indulges in adult fare, but because it started out as a XXX root-beer stand. It still serves food that a self-mocking sign posted by the front door, admits is not what your doctor might wish you to eat; but the burgers and burritos are so popular, that a variety of auto clubs stage events there, from March through September.

  Sometimes, collecting vintage trucks runs in families. Dan Morley of Gig Harbor, Washington bought a 1958 Mack B75 from his cousin, Bob Brown; who used to run a wrecking yard on Pacific Highway 99, right on the line between Washington's King and Pierce counties. That yard was for vintage trucks and its specialty was the Mack.

  “Bob's 77 now and this was his last truck,” explained Morley of the venerable machine on display. “I bought it to keep it in the family. The triplex transmission has 15 speeds; a three speed auxiliary with a 5 speed main - each of the main gears are split. The diesel has a limited range. 1,500 to 2,100 rpm is about where you want to keep it."

  Morley is also the president of the Northwest SAAB owners club. He credits his cousin with getting him interested in trucks.

  “I've always liked antique things and Bob certainly played a role,” said Morley. It was 11 years ago, that he purchased a 1951 Chevrolet 1-and-half ton flatbed truck. Now, he's affiliated with the Northwest chapter of the American Truck Historical Association; which brought trucks for the show.

 
The Wallace's 1928 Ford Model AA dump truck, brought from Graham, Washington. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Michelle and Bill Wallace brought a 1928 Ford Model AA truck, painted the correct Ross Moss Green, up from Graham, Washington. It was fitted with the same in-line four cylinder engine you'd find in a Model A Ford automobile, capable of just 40 horsepower at 2,200 rpm. As such, Michelle said, “We trailered it up or we'd still be driving it.”

 
Somewhere in its life, perhaps at the dealer which originally sold it, the Wallace's 1928 Model AA truck had been fitted with a bed and dumping mechanism. (Photos by Terry Parkhurst)

 

  It had been equipped with a rear platform from the factory. Somewhere in its lifetime, there'd been the addition of a pickup bed and a dumping mechanism – perhaps a dealer made modification. Like all Model AA trucks, the chassis was similar to that of its automotive counterpart, but was substantially larger and heavier to accommodate heavy hauling.

  Other unique features of the Model AA truck were an updraft carburetor on the engine, a 6-volt generator, a two-blade fan for the engine, mechanical water and oil pump, a four-row radiator and an electric starter; however, the engine could be hand-cranked to start, if need be. The transmission was a four-speed manual.

 
The "Green Machine," a rare military specification 1942 Dodge WC-53, owned by Keith Klosterman. He did a careful, six year restoration to get it to this point. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Keith Klosterman's “Green Machine,” a 1942 Dodge WC-53, one of just 8,402 built for military use, made people stop and stare. With few remaining, most people had never seen one of these SUV-like Carryall enclosed cab rigs. When set-up for military use, they were equipped with a radio for communications and meant to serve as an officer's portable command vehicle during the Second World War.

  The original engine was a 92 brake horsepower, 230.2 cubic-inch flathead, in-line 6 cylinder; but the “Green Machine” had been retrofitted with a Chevrolet V8 of indeterminate displacement. The engine was left in the frame and made operational again; the frame the body sets on is original. The transmission is a SM 420 unit, fitted with a PTO (power take-off unit).

  This truck was reportedly purchased for restoration in 1993. It had been setting out in Seattle rain for 8 years, previously. Like most military vehicles, it had been “run hard and put away wet,” as the saying goes. Most of the sheet metal was all right; however, there were reportedly stress fractures everywhere and the electrical system had been gutted.

  Restoration started in 1995. Klosterman replaced all missing body panels himself, he said, with OEM (original equipment manufactured) pieces; or he fabricated them. The interior was restored with all original sheet metal. The instruments were replaced, but all dash lights and knobs, as well as dash plates, are original. The seats were replaced, but the floors and trim are original.

  While the “Green Machine” was deemed roadworthy in 2001, Klosterman said, “As with all restorations, fine tuning is always going on.”

 
An ad for Chevrolet once equated the marque with "Mom and apple pie." Rod Parkinson's 1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup shows that still the case. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  On an adjacent part of the parking lot was Rod Parkinson's bright red 1950 Chevrolet series 3100 pickup truck. With the hood up, you could see in the immaculate engine bay a “Stovebolt Six,” a 235 cubic inch, in-line 6 cylinder engine; modified with a finned and chromed valve cover and two,c chrome side-draft carburetors.

 
Detailing is epitomized in the engine bay of this 1950 Chevrolet series 3100 pickup truck. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  To some it might be just a truck. But to those assembled for this Sunday, it was a four-wheeled paean to what made America the country it is. – Terry Parkhurst

 

For information on the American Truck Historical Society, look at: www.aths.org

or write them at: P.O. Box 901611; Kansas City, Missouri 64190-1611

 For information on Pfahl Mack truck restorations, in Connecticutt, look at:  http://www.macktruckrestorations.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flying Merkels to BEV "White Zombie" at eclectic show in Seattle

 
 

"Flying Merkel" motorcycles were made in Ohio; these two - 1912 and 1914 models - belong to John Viljoen, Antique Cycle Northwest. They're shown setting in the bed of a 1939 Studebaker coupe express, owned by Alan Kunosky, at the Greenwood Car Show in Seattle on July 25. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

 Seattle, Washington is far from being known as a city friendly to automotive enthusiasts. Bicycle lanes have sprouted up all over the city, thanks in part to a mayor best known for bicycling to work and being a member of the Sierra club; however, a car show on the last Saturday of June, in the Greenwood district of Seattle, showed enthusiasm for the automobile in a variety of forms, is alive and well here. 

John Walker, owner of John Walker's Workshop, a Porsche repair shop in the Greenwood district and one of the organizers of the show reported after it was over that, “There were 710 cars. We walked it off to get an accurate count.”

 

The Greenwood show from above. (Photo by Diane Jacobson)

  That would've been quite a walk, too. Unlike other car shows which are staged on private lawns or commercial facilities – think the lawn at Pebble Beach CA or Forest Grove, Oregon – the Greenwood Show is held on both sides of Greenwood Avenue North. Traffic going longitudinally is suspended for the duration of the show.

This year's show ranged from the where North 67^th Street crosses Greenwood Avenue, up to 90^th Street- one-and-a-half miles. Traffic going across, at two major intersections, was still stopped by traffic lights; with police on hand to ensure that the multitude of show-going pedestrians got across safely before traffic rolled.

 
The 1935 Pierce-Arrow 7-passenger sedan, owned by Gerald Garman, at the Greenwood Car Show. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  The multitude of vehicles ranged from a 1919 Cadillac four-sedan that was a restoration project – unknown if it was driven or trailered – to a collection of electric-powered cars and trucks, displayed by the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA).

  Typical of any car show in America, some of the most fascinating offerings came from that period of unrestrained exuberance in industrial design, the 1950s.

 
Gilbert Lynn brought this 1956 Nash Ambassador to the Greenwood Car Show. His research showed it to have once been "the official car of Disneyland" and had the same owner for 26 years of its existence. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

   Gilbert Lynn exhibited a dazzling 1956 Nash Ambassador that had one woman crouching down, just to get a photograph of the grille. It was equipped not only with a Pinin Farina-designed body, but also a Packard-built 260 horsepower, 352 cubic-inch V8. Lynn explained that it was the only year that Nashes had Packard engines.

 
The 1950 Studebaker Champion of Lance Lambert. It was powered by an 85 horsepower, 169.6 cubic-inch 6 cylinder engine; backed up by a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

   Lance Lambert, well-known host of The Vintage Vehicle television show was on hand to show his 1950 Studebaker Champion four-door sedan; the car best remembered by automotive enthusiasts for its bullet-shaped nose. The power-train combination for this particular example was an 85 horsepower, 169.6 cubic-inch, in-line six cylinder engine; backed up by a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive.

 
A 1964 Datsun NL320 pickup truck, equipped with a 60 horsepower, 1200 cc engine, owned by Dave Firestone; displayed at the Greenwood Car Show. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

 
The 1964 Datsun L320 pickup truck, with separate bed, owned by Jack Kampa, on display at the Greenwood Car Show. Kampa said he'd owned it since 1971. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Japanese collectibles were well represented by two well-restored little Datsun pickup trucks, both models NL320.

 
Dave Firestone, owner of one of the Datsun L320s cheerfully showed how the engine on one of them was fully capable of being started by a hand crank, if need be. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  It was the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA) gathering that seemed to merge the past and future in some interesting ways. John Wayland brought his “White Zombie,” a 1972 Datsun 1200 coupe up from Portland, Oregon; equipped with two electric motors, Wayland has been able to achieve 117.21 miles-per-hour in a quarter mile, from a standing start, with an elapsed time of 10.4 seconds.

 
This 1972 Datsun 1200 is capable of 117.21 miles-per-hour in the quarter mile. Just below is the reason why: a "Siamese 9" electric motor consisting of what used to be two separate 9-inch electric motors, now one. This custom built electric motor is coupled to a 2000 amp Zilla brand controller. (Photos by Terry Parkhurst)

 

  Roderick Wilde displayed a street rod, based on a replica fiberglass 1932 Ford “deuce” roadster, powered not by a the usual V8, but instead a Advanced DC 8-inch electric motor with AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries. The battery pack consisted of 24 batteries in series, producing 288 volts.

 
The electric-powered street rod of Roderick Wilde, owner of EV Parts in Port Townsend, Washington; brought down to the Greenwood Car Show. Just below is the Advanced DC 8-inch electric motor installed in the engine bay. (Photos by Terry Parkhurst)

 
 

Wilde's company, EV Parts, offers the conversion components to produce a similar example of a true 21^st Century hot rod. Wilde said that while he's only had his creation above 70 miles-per-hour on the freeway, “It's capable of more.”

 
The archer hood ornament on the radiator grille of Gerald Garmon's 1935 Pierce-Arrow is an example of why vintage autos are collected as art. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

So there it is, the 19th staging of an auto show that demonstrated the changing nature of automotive technology, amidst the best automotive history has to offer. - Terry Parkhurst

Recommended websites:

Vintage Vehicle television: www.vintagevehicletv.com

EV Parts for electric vehicle conversion: www.evparts.com

Complete information on the "White Zombie" '72 Datsun racecar: http://www.plasmaboyracing.com/whitezombie.php