I knew they had problems, but man they were cool looking!

Have you seen the Coppola movie about it?

 

Of course!

My question to you is...why would you think otherwise?

I'm an auto historian, I read everything I can get my grubby mitts on in print, have seen dozens of auto related films, including The First Car, a silent film made circa 1925.

I'm one a Autobooks/Aerobooks best customers. This bookstore is located in beautiful downtown Burbank, I've bought 100's of auto related books there since the 1960's.

Now they have added books on ships and Naval Warfare. I may have to get a part time job to help pay for all of them.

 

Here's a suggestion Bill. Get the book on audio CD or cassette. Than you can listen to them and still be on the forum. We wouldn't want you busy reading when we need you here. As for funds just publish a book ( in audio ) on automotive history and tid- bitts that you know, if ya haven't already.

 

Morning Bill,

I saw a Tucker car (number 19) in the car museum in San Diego the other day...that headlight in the middle looked like it swivelled to follow the road? Paid my 8 bucks to get in, not even a truck in there.

 

Speaking of car museums, anyone been to this one: Cussler Museum
I've read a lot of his books, and always wanted to see the cars IRL. Maybe next time I go to Co to visit my cousin.

 

I actually worked on a lift for this place in the 1980's. My father used to install inground lifts, and we installed on here. I remember it because we took my Dad's '69 Mustang out for Clive to look at. He offered my Dad $25,000.00 and a ride home. My Dad wisely refused. Clive told him that he was smart to refuse. There are some really cool cars in here. Patton's Car, FDR's Car, and Hitlers Car. Really cool place, but as I recall not much of a truck guy.

 

Nooo way, never, none. I don't wany any audio books, have never had or even listened to one.

The printed word enables me to have something to do, rather than spend sooo much time on the net.

On another note, I have attended three Clive Cussler book signings, he and I have discussed some of the stuff he owns before the book signings.

At one of these, he mentioned he was looking for an original copy of Automobile Quarterly Volume I. He now has it...I had several extra copies...this is the Packard edition and very hard to find.

I knew he had a museum, but I rarely go to car related museums anymore, except those in Europe...where one will see something different.

Which car does Cussler have that Gen. George S. Patton owned or had anything to do with?

The Ft. Knox Ky museum claims to have the Cadillac staff car that Patton used in Festung Europa when he was in command of the Third & Fifteenth Armies. It's a fake, but that's another story.

There are at least three Grosser Mercedes-Benzes extant (of the eight that were produced). Hitler never owned own, he just rode in whichever one the motor pool happened to have.

Since other top ****'s also rode in these cars, none can be considered Hitler's only.

btw: The Tucker's center headlamp as advertised, was supposed to turn with the wheels, but AFAIK, that feature wasn't installed on any of the 51 prototypes.

Across from the car museum (in Balboa Park) is the Air & Space Museum. The building it's in is the former Ford Rotunda, erected to showcase FoMoCo's 1935 vehicles during the 1935 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition.

 

NumberDummy, It has been a long time since I was in the place, but as I recall it was one of the cars that Patton used as a staff car sometime during his tenure in Europe. If I get a chance to go out there again I will. I would tell you what the car looked like, but one thing I specifically remember is that all the cars he got, he strips them down for a frame off so everything can change. IE, it could be the model and make of a car that Patton owned just made up to look like the one he had.

The Hitler car he claims was very distinct, it had very thick windows 1.25 inches or better, and a steel plate behind the passenger compartment, and an arm rest that you slam your hand down on and a compartment pops open to reveal a luger. Very cool little tid bit even if it is fake. I have several books from the men who served in Easy company of Band of Brothers fame, and the cars they found at Berchtesgarten fit the description of the car I saw almost 30 years ago. Again, I will try to go out there if I get a chance but the museum is only open on Monday and Tuesday. Hopefully I can come up with more information.

 

We were going to go last summer when we were out there on vacation, but I let my cousin talk me out of it. The only car/truck related thing we ended up doing was Carhenge in NE. Next time I'm in Co, my cousin can sit his damn butt on the couch, I"m gonna go see Clive's cars.

 

What's awesome to me, is here's Bill on one side who knows more about Fords and a lot of other history than any other person I've ever met, and then I have my Pops on the other side who is on par with Bill inre to my favourite cars (Which are his as well) slight difference, since Iso made so small a number of cars, he knows just about every chassis number and can tell you the entire history of that car, fun game I like to play, just so happens he and I both have a copy of the factory records of all the cars and I quiz him, lol

 

When Patton was in command of Fifth Army in North Africa, the only staff car I've seen pics of him in, was a 1942 Packard Clipper.

What he used in Sicily, I dunno. Patton was relieved of command of Fifth Army when Ike learned of the slapping incidents that occured in Sicily.

In the film Patton, only one is shown, but there were three separate incidents.

When Patton assumed command of Third Army in Normandy (July 1944), his staff car was a 1938 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 seven passenger limousine. All Cadillac limo's had a divider window between the front/rear seats.

When Patton was relieved of command of Third Army by Ike, given command of Fifteenth Army (no real army at all, since its members were writing a history of the ETO), Patton kept the same staff car.

The day Patton was to return to the US, he decided to go pheasant hunting in the morning. His driver had to stop at a RR crossing in Mannheim. When traffic proceeded, a 6X6 army truck driven by a private that was drunk turned left in front of Patton's Cadillac.

The Cadillac ran into the side of the truck, smashing its front end in. Patton, who was seated on the edge of the back seat fell forward, his head hit the divider, breaking his neck. Patton later died of an embolism caused by this injury and at his wife's request, is buried "among his boys" in the Luxembourg military cemetery.

I've seen pics of this car after the accident occured. I doubt the US Army would have repaired it considering that parts in Europe would have been scarce and the car was only worth about $500.00...in showroom condition.

The Ft. Knox museum claims to have this Cadillac, but it's registered as a 1939 (the front end is the major difference between a 1938/39), and...the serial and body numbers do not match (there were no VIN's back then) Patton's 1938 Cadillac, so it's a fake.

 

I posted this last night over at allfordmustangs under a rare truck discussion started by Chelle.
I am so pumped. I just bought a 1965 "Ranger" I guess. It is a 2 tone Custom Cab with bucket seats and center console. 46k original miles. It was only driven 10 years (garaged at least 7 of those years) and then garaged until tomorrow. Hopefully. If I get it out. I am 54 yo and the truck was bought brand new by our neighbor who died in 1975. He bought a new truck every couple of years and I am told bought this one because it was the first year (he knew of anyway) that he could get bucket seats. I don't think it has carpets though. His stepson bought it in '67 and then bought anther one from him later and parked this one in the garage. Last tabs are '75. I remained friends with both of these guys until they died. Just bought the truck form the stepsons wife tonight. Boy am I excited.
So now it's morning and IT IS RAINING! And I am not going to pull that truck out of its garage for the first time in 25 years into the rain! Talk about from a high to low! And I had my camera with and didn't take pictures but I will. And it was dark in there but I thought the seats and console were black. His wife has very a very specific memory of her father-in-law buying it because as I mentioned "it was the first year you could get bucket seats".

 

all you old timers and a young gun has to point it out!? this must be the rarest option ever in a slick, a V6, i thought that wasn't even a option until like 1980/ correct me if im wrong.

 

Uh huh...the young gun's peepers were oughtta sync, cuz there was no such thing as a V6 engine factory installed in any US/Canadian vehicle back then.

The Ford Capri was imported from Cologne, Germany in late 1970, sold in the US as the Mercury Capri. It was available with the 2.3L I-4 and the 2.6L V6.

The 2.6L was enlarged to 2.8L, then installed in 1974 and later Pinto/Bobcats and Mustang II's, and the imported Capri's.

The 3.8L V6 was available in 1982/83 F100's. This was the first use of a V6 in an F Series truck.

1965/66 F100/350: There were three different engines available: 240 I-6 / 300 I-6 / 352 2V V8.

 

vintagehotdog, what part of the state are you located ??


- cs65


its always good hearing about others finds around here.