Friday, August 24, 2018

Lincolns and More

Last week we took a little spin down to Louisburg, Kansas where we saw a large RV park out in the middle of nowhere.  Near the entry to the park was a little "strip mall' constructed in more or less Old West style, wooden buildings and so on.  A few stores occupying same but on the south end of the complex we espied a garage, front door open and a gleaming '57 Thunderbird facing the world.  We had to stop.

We got out of our car and walked over to the building.  We entered and were greeted by the owner who clearly enjoyed having visitors ogle his workmanship, for he is a quality restorer of classic cars.  The conversation enlightened us considerably.  The T-Bird he had just finished for a customer, having redone a previous restoration and correcting the problems therewith.  He declared it now "better than new" and I don't doubt it.  Here is a rather poor picture of the 'Bird, as it is severely back-lighted.




Next to the 'Bird was a '64 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible.  I expressed considerable interest in the car as I drove a Continental for six years in the sixties and early seventies.  Mine was not a convertible.  The gentleman advised me to take a look outside at the south end of the building, as there was a completed Continental out there which he had just finished and taken out.


Next to this Lincoln was a '65 Mustang, a marque which I also owned.  I bought mine new in1965.

This is what we saw out under the trees, my old heart-throb!  Isn't she beautiful?

7 comments:

Vee said...

You are a true car buff. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

Grace said...

Do they add things like seat belts when they restore old cars? They would seem to be anachronistic but necessary to drive the cars on the open road today.

Secondary Roads said...

Such beautiful works of art.

vanilla said...

Vee, great afternoon! I like old cars but rather glad I no longer have the responsibility of owning one of them.

Grace, federal law exempts seat belt requirements in autos built prior to The Highway Safety Act of 1966. Some "purists" will not defile an old vehicle by use of any equipment not original to the marque. Others acquire old vehicles for the pleasure of owning and driving them. Some of those owners do install seat belts.

Chuck, they were works of art. Today's cars are built to cocoon the occupants and propel them from point A to point B in the most efficient manner.

Lin said...

WOW! Beautiful care of those autos! What a treat to see.

Jim Grey said...

When I was a kid a neighbor had a Mustang in exactly that color combination. I rode in the back "on the hump" many times. Fortunately, the posterior of a youngster is impervious to hard surfaces.

vanilla said...

Lin, the artisan is a master, and perfectionist.

Jim, interesting that you should mention riding "on the hump," because when I bought that vehicle I had three children ages three to eight and it was our only car. Go figure. Someone got a like-new car a year later when I traded it off for a sedan.