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Black 1970 AMC AMX. (Image source: bing.com)
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For months now, I've been mentioning how I'd
expected to be traveling to what's now known here in Nofendersville
affectionately as thee "Other" Florence, aka Oregon's magnificent
Sand Dunes; NOT Italy's town where some 'lil 'Ol statue of David sits; Hooah!
Rods 'N Rhodies recap
What better excuse to go to Florence to visit our friends whilst staying
at the renown Honeyman State Park than tying the trip in with my Debutant
outing to Florence's annual Rods 'N Rhodies Car Show.
Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen, my esteemed
Chauffer, Cook, Bottle Washer and most importantly, Personal Assistant
Extraordinaire - graciously drove your
humble No Fenders scribe Tomaso southwards from our Tacoma "Staging
Area" to Florence, Oregon and A-L-L points in-between, departing on
Thursday, 'ZeppTember 4th.
After leisurely making our way down the coast, I learned a long
known, yet apparently forgotten lesson. DON'T ever trust others to do your
research for Yuhs!
Since even though
I'd obviously read the town's website in order to ascertain the event dates,
I'd not paid strict Attenzione to the details apparently?
After Mary Ellen first noted our vehicle 'O
choice, the trusty 'C-Team's '91 Dodge van resembling that long ago fond
"A Team" vehicle, being passed by several Hot Rods Friday afternoon,
somewheres in Oregon. Presumably on their way to Florence? She noted how what
appeared to be a vintage Bonneville
parked alongside the two-lane "Blacktop" we were crusin' on, parked
roadside, with its occupants sitting in folding chairs enjoying the passing
caravan 'O vintage Rods, having their own "Private Idaho" Car Show!
Then with Forked Tongue, insert Foot here! I
made the mistake of proclaiming: The Car Show's just Friday night, with a
"Poker Run" and Sunday, as we'd been originally planning on attending
on Saturday, to which Mary Ellen shot back: Then why are we scurrying to get to
Florence early tomorrow?
Thus, erroneously, as I won't mention who
gave me the Bum Steer! (NOT Mary Ellen...) We missed the full day's Car Show,
which presumably featured way more vintage Rides at the annual end of Summer
Rods 'N Rhodies extravaganza, since I've got NO idea where my friend pulled up
his info from; BUTT! here's the website
in Questione:
Sunday, Sept 7th
Arriving promptly at 9AM sharp for the final
day's car show, albeit the abbreviated version, i.e.; 9AM-Noon, vs. Saturday's
all day 9AM-4PM event, originally my Number-1 choice for my imaginary
"Best 'O Show" went to the very first vehicle we viewed, an
ultra-rare and for us, never seen or heard of before Americar, with second
place going to another unseen in-the-flesh treasure, an AMX. While third place
was bestowed upon a BAD ARSE Stingray,
but I'm getting way ahead of myself...
So what's an Americar Mary Ellen asked its affable
owner sitting behind his vehicle, to which we were told the following; which WICKEDpedia' seems
to somewhat contradict. (Per usual...)
It's a 1941 "Jeepster" related
vehicle, which Willys, then known as the Willys Overland Motors company
produced between 1940-41, countering upon the patriotic theme sweeping the
nation. Many were produced as 4-door staff vehicles abroad being used in Europe
during the war. (WWII)
As I casually glanced over the vehicle, a Gynormous (rear) chrome wheel leapt out at
Mwah, which I told said owner; that Don't look stock! To which he cheerfully
rang back: NOPE! There isn't much stock on this chassis anymore! As I've
converted it to two doors, albeit being Suicide doors, along with hopping up
the engine, etc. As I think he mentioned it being a bumped up 2675cc '4-banger?
While proclaiming the original four cylinder lump cranked out a lowly 62bhp!
And the most non-stock item on said Americar
was its AWESOME paint job, as is it green, gray, black, midnight blue,
turquoise; Oh Never Mind! As this custom paint changed its hue
"Reptilian-like" dependent upon what angle you looked at it or the
sun; Uhm? Where'd it go; Hya! Played off the car's relatively low roofline,
fenders, doors, etc.
As this colour changing characteristic
immediately made me think of that ultra expensive Mystic 'Stang paint colour, a
proprietary BASF automotive paint that's colour shifts between seven different
hues and was only used upon the ultra low 2,000-units production run of the
1996 Ford Mustang Cobra SVT, which naturally, I'd LUV' having one! Albeit don't
know if I'd cherish the bill for repainting I-T!
Yet Ah Contraire Monsieur; Wee-Wee! As the Wikipedia page
for Willys Americar denotes the model
was produced between 1941-42, with some 22,000 units in '41, followed by a
further 7,000 in its final year of
production...
'Whale, Otay, we'd better get KURR-RACKIN'
since there's "Miles-to-Go," Rod-wise and we're only on vehicle No.
1. Alas, after our extended 'Chin-wag, we moseyed along the next cars in
procession and turned the page; Err corner. As we'd entered Florence's
"Old-town," or is it Downtown? From a side street, as there were just
a few blocks cordoned off to traffic for said car show.
- 5 Chevy Bel Air's
- 2 Chevy Nomad's
- 2 Corvette Stingray's
- 2 Chevy Fleetline's
- Bonneville
- 1969 Ford Mustang coupe
- 1960 23-window VW Bus
Hot Rods Galore!
Then in no particular order I noted the
following vehicles presence above, since for Mwah, contrary to my belief,
thinking that Bel Air's were only made between 1955-57; Hey, after all they're
"Chebbies!"
Hmm? Never noticed before how those year's
would square off nicely vs. Ford's iconic "Baby Bird," aka the
1955-57 Thunderbird. As one of those Bel Air's window placard denoted it as a
'54 model; Hmm?
Having now learned a bit more 'bout the
Chevrolet Bel Air, who's model year's ran from 1950 to 1981, with US production
ceasing in '75, as the Bel Air was then
replaced by the Impala.
Alas, the second generation 1955-57's are the
Hot Rodder's favourites, with that '54
model being the last year of the first
generation models. (1950-54) As Who'd Uh
Thunk I-T, that learning could be so
fun; Hooah!
Then we stumbled upon a lone 1967 'Vette, proclaiming its Elkhart blue
interior(?) was the only one produced, along with this Corvette being the last
vehicle built in February of that year.
There were lots of early 1930's vintage Hot
Rods, notably Rodder's favourite's, i.e.; '32 Ford "3-window &
5-window" coupes, some with the obligatory flames upon them, albeit both
cars I noticed with these were done
tastefully.
A lone Bonneville "Boatmobile" made
us marvel over its incredibly long length, as they just don't make land barges like that NO more; Hya!
And there was some sorta Mercury(?) all on
its lonesome which featured a clear glass roof that only covered the front row of seating, i.e.; front windshield
pillar to driver's seat.
Also seem to recall that we'd passed by a
1968 Mercury Cougar before getting to the 'Vette, as I still fondly recall an
ex co-worker named Pat, who was going to
WSU who'd restored a '67? Cougar convertible, red with black top. As I always
rejoice over some Dude's named Rufus (Parnelli Jones) and Dan Gurney being
two-thirds of Lincoln-Mercury's 1967 Trans Am team...
Then at the end of the row, were two more
oddities for Mwah, these being what I perceived to be early 1940's Hot Rods,
although if I'd thought about it more seriously, I'd have remembered that
something called World War II ceased ALL automobile production during this
time-frame.
Yet what drew my Attenzione to the vehicles
in question were their unique two-piece
slit front windshield's - with a thin center post in the middle of the
windshield, which I've never seen before; previously my only "Split
window" knowledge related to one of my favourite Corvette's, the iconic
1963 rear split window model.
Thus, purusing the A-L-L Knowing Intrawoods,
nee internets, I've discovered that these two cars were Chevrolet Fleetline's
which were produced between 1941-42 and 1946-52, although I have NO idea what
year or style they were, having failed
to view the rear end to see if they were Fastback's? While Me Thinks they were
at least 2-door versions.
For
Part 2 of this Mondo' Car Show expose, see; AUTOS: Florence Rods 'NRhodies Car Show serendipitous Trans Am connection