Author Archive: adamgillrie

Regarded as one of the first real sports cars produced in America, the 1956 Thunderbird was a legend before its time. It immediately became a classic and a much sought-after collector car. The styling was fresh, youthful in its appeal and unique to this model. The lines of the Thunderbird are sleek and very low ... only four and a half feet from ground to roof top. The external mounting of the spare wheel atop the rear bumper, gives the car a "Continental" look. The stunning 1956 Thunderbird two-seater sports car was certainly one of Ford's better ideas in a fashion conscious era.

The 1957 model with minor retouching, carried on the Thunderbird mystique; but the car's whole character was lost in 1958 when it was re-bodied into a much less sporting four -eater. It remained "Just another car" until the exciting new Thunderbird of today was born. Interestingly, should you purchase a new Thunderbird, it will bear a strong family resemblance to this 1956 classic.

This T-bird is powered by a 312 cubic inch V-8 engine developing 225 horsepower at 4600 RPM. Click Here for Audio Story

New from the ground up, the 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer was Flair-Fashioned and alive with beauty! In fact, more than one automotive writer called it the most beautiful car of the 1950's. Coming on the scene at the time America was modernizing its highway system, the 1955 Dodge was a powerful and thrilling car to drive on the interstates. Many families still look back longingly to wonderful trips on those brand new interstate divided, limited access highways...in their luxurious 1955 Dodges, of course.

Aside from some minor cosmetic work, this particular Dodge is unrestored. With only 54,820 miles on the odometer, the car has retained much of its original new car look and performance.

With "Forward Look" styling from the Virgil Exner design studios, and powered by the famous Chrysler Hemi V-8 engine, the 1955 Desoto was a leader in styling and performance. It was similar to the Chrysler of its day. Desoto cars were built from 1929 to 1961.

The "Forward Look" was the Chrysler Corporation's terms for styling that seemed to leap past that of its rivals. There is no doubt that the 1955 Desotos were handsome cars, not only in their day but also in ours. They still look clean and stately. It was in 1955 that Chrysler built cars began to take over design leadership, so long held by General Motors. By 1957, However GM was hastening to catch up.

This 1955 Desoto Hardtop is interesting. In storage for thirty years, it is remarkable original.

With "forward look" styling from the Virgil Exner design studios, and powered by the famous Chrysler 331 Hemi V-8 Engine, the New Yorker was a leader in styling and performance. It was often the car of choice among up-scale buyers in 1955. The "forward look" was the Chrysler Corporation's term for styling that seemed to leap past that of its rivals. There is no doubt that the 1955 Chryslers were handsome cars, not only in their day, but also in ours. They still look clean and stately. It was in 1955 that Chrysler began to take over design leadership, so long held by General Motors. But by 1957, GM was hastening to catch up.

This 1955 Chrysler New Yorker Hardtop is remarkably original. With less than 60,000 miles on the odometer, it has obviously been carefully maintained. Its history can be traced back to the day, almost fifty years ago, its proud owner took delivery from the showroom floor.

Power steering, power brakes, Powerflite Automatic Transmission and, of course, the powerful Hemi V-8 engine are among the features of this fine automobile.

Built by Jaguar cars, ltd., of Great Britain Engine, six cylinders in line, seven main bearing cast iron block. 210 cubic inch displacement. Aluminum cylinder head. Two overhead valves per cylinder. Spherical combustion chambers. Twin overhead camshafts. Twin constant-vacuum carburetors. Perhaps the most sought after sports car of all time, the Jaguar XK 120 has become legendary. Its sleek beauty and throaty engine roar made the XK120 a great rally car as well as a successful race car. Only 190 horsepower but with tremendous acceleration, proud owners boasted that the Jaguar XK 120, with the twin cam 3442cc engine, could reach 120 miles per hour, as other cars struggled at 80.

This jaguar XK 120 was professionally restored in the Terry Kesselring vintage car shops, Elsmere, Kentucky. It is a meticulous body off frame, ground up restoration, with particular exactness toward maintaining original specifications, colors, fabrics etc. Pictures and restoration details are on file.

This Jaguar 120 XK has often taken top honors in judging contests. The Jaguar 120 XK was sensational to look at, with a purity of line that did not need chrome embellishment. Today, over fifty-five years later, t [...]

The beautiful, streamlined Hudson for 1950, the only car with the "step-down ride" and Hudson's exclusive "Monobuilt Body-and-Frame," the forerunner of today's Unit-Body construction. This was a big, roomy, low center of gravity road machine, and one of the most elegant cars of its day. Remember the movie, "Driving Miss Daisy?" Morgan Freeman chauffeured Miss Daisy in her 1950 Hudson Commodore 8, just like this one.

The Commodore 8 was the forerunner of the Hudson Hornet, which dominated the Nascar races from 1951 to 1954. In 1955, Hudson and Nash Merged to form AMC, now part of Daimler Chrysler.

The first newly styled Dodge after World War II. Everything was new with the 1949 Dodges. Even the names. Dodge finally broke out of the Deluxe/Custom syndrome. Now there was Coronet, Meadowbrook, and Wayfarer. Styling was all new. 1949 Dodges were longer and lower. Fenders were now an integral part of the overall design-not tacked on as an afterthought. The checkerboard grille was widened, and the parking lights were now circular and mounted below the headlights.

Displayed is a Meadowbrook series four door sedan, riding on a 123 1/2 inch wheelbase with a fluid drive transmission. Featuring chair-height seats and a soft cushiony ride, the 1949 Dodge was a big, comfortable car, and a lot of car for the money.

Production of Dodge cars rose dramatically in 1949, with a total of 298,399 being built. This original and excellently preserved Dodge is part of the Bob Swope Ford Collection. It is the car Bob Swope drove as a student at Miami University.

Although over fifty years old, this handsome Packard super 8 remains a daring concept of what a convertible should really be; big, elegant and flashy! Every breath-taking inch of this car is Packard precision-built. With only 23,000 documented miles, this is an unrestored "original." original upholstery, original black lacquer finish, original engine and drive train. This car was driven only sparingly before it was placed in covered storage. There it remained untouched for many years. Specifications: Straight 8 Engine with Overdrive Power Top Power Windows Power Seat Radio and Heater The 1948 model was the first restyled Packard following world war II

This Packard is more than a museum piece. It is also a "driver." handling is superb. It will journey all day at highway speeds. The ride? It is as gentle as silk and as hushed as a whisper in church. Power? It is hard to beat a big straight eight. This is a car that can be driven for the sheer fun of it.

Sleek design. Luxury appointments. Sporty appearance. Smooth comfort. Fierce body integrity. This Packard comes close to achieving the ultimate in motoring pleasure and pride of ownership. "ask the man who owns o [...]

This Chrysler, model C-39N, is clearly from the era of big, powerful, straight eights. Only 701 of this model were ever built. According to the Automotive Information Clearing House, there are just four left. Identified by its extra wide grille, long hood, and sloping rear deck, it was a beautiful car in 1948. It still is! Extending over a period of many months, the car was professionally restored to original specifications. It has since been the recipient of numerous trophies and "Best Of Show" Awards. Click Here for Audio Story

Specifications:

127.5 Inch Wheelbase 3,837 Pounds Eight Cylinder in line Engine 323.5 Cubic Inches 135 Horsepower Fluid Drive Four Speed Semi-automatic Transmission When it was fifty years old, this 1948 Chrysler New Yorker placed second in the 1998 "Great Race Across America", from Tacoma, Washington to Haverhill, Massachusetts.