Editor’s Picks

Old Cars Weekly editors don’t usually play favorites… but we will here! Sometimes it’s a unique car, other times it’s the owner or story behind it that catch our attention. Our Editor’s Picks reflect some of the must-read stories on unique classic cars you won’t want to miss.

Jet-Age getaway cars

raustin | August 30, 2012

This year, organizers of Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s in Plymouth, Mich., hauled in more brightwork and splashed more color than any past year with the Jet-Age Station Wagons class, and the July 29 concours crowd loved it. More »

Categories: Car Show News, Editor's Picks | Tags: concours, Jet Age, station wagon | 4 Comments

Chevelle puzzle solved: Race car comes full circle

raustin | August 27, 2012

Heinke Trapp was just 7 years old when his father purchased a pair of 1970 Chevrolet LS-6 Chevelles to help promote Quality Chevrolet (now Trapp Chevrolet), his dealership in Houma, La. After a few years of racing, this white one was sold and thought gone forever. But then, to Trapp’s amazement, it resurfaced a few years ago. More »

Categories: Editor's Picks, Features, Hobby News, Muscle Cars | Tags: Chevelle, Chevrolet, racing, restoration | 7 Comments

Ford Find: Fan finds uncle’s long-lost ’46 hiding in barn

raustin | August 8, 2012

After five hours of work, Cleer was finally able to retrieve the Ford from hiding. It was in remarkably good condition and exactly how his uncle had built it.

When Richard Cleer of Ipava, Ill., found the 1946 Ford five-passenger coupe his uncle had hot-rodded in the 1950s just 25 miles from his home, he was actually following a lead to a 1939 flathead engine for another car. The barn was so overgrown with vines, trees and tall grass, it would have taken Indiana Jones to find it. Sometimes it pays to be in the right place at the right time. More »

Categories: 40's Cars, Editor's Picks, Features, Hobby News | Tags: barn find, Ford, hotrod, International Harvester, Mercury | 5 Comments

VJ Film from 1945: Cars, Jeeps and Youth

raustin | August 8, 2012

67 years ago this month, Richard Sullivan’s father shot this great video along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, Honolulu, capturing spontaneous celebrations that broke out upon first hearing news of the Japanese surrender. Kodachrome 16mm film: God bless Kodachrome, right? Take … More »

Categories: Editor's Picks, Hobby News | 1 Comment

Twin Cities turns back the clock for another great Back to the 50’s

raustin | August 6, 2012

This Model A Ford truck is more typical of what lines the tree-shaded roads around Back to the 50’s in June. This red hauler is particularly sharp.

Despite its name, the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s annual Back to the 50’s event isn’t directly about the 1950s as it is about the 1973 cult classic “American Graffiti,” which takes place in 1962. That film reminded Minnesota gear heads about their own automotive heritage of cruising the loop around St. Paul in cool cars, so the MSRA started Back to the 50’s 39 years ago to bring the 1950s from the screen to the street. More »

Categories: 50's Cars, 60's Cars, Car Show News, Club News, Editor's Picks, Features | Tags: American Graffiti, Back to the 50's, Minnesota Street Rod Association, MSRA | Leave a comment

Iola heats up with orphans

raustin | July 23, 2012

You’d be hard-pressed to search out a larger display of finned Mopars — especially convertibles — than you’ll find at the northwest corner of Iola’s Blue Ribbon Concours. This lineup is led by a 1958 De Soto Adventurer hardtop, which flanks a 1957 Adventurer convertible and a 1959 Chrysler 300-E convertible.

Steamy Iola ’12 features Mercury, Plymouth, Pontiac and Olds By Angelo Van Bogart Despite the intense heat and threats of much-needed rain, they came from far and wide to the 40th annual Iola Old Car Show, held July 12-15 in … More »

Categories: Car Show News, Editor's Picks, Hobby News | 7 Comments

Restoration Basics: New oil and old cars

raustin | June 18, 2012

By William C. “Bill” Anderson, P.E. Oils are always changing to meet current needs and the recent concern of collector car owners regarding changes in oil formulations is a bit overblown. Misinformation abounds, causing confusion and needless worry for most … More »

Categories: Editor's Picks, Hobby News | 3 Comments

Kaufmann’s Quest for Quality

raustin | June 13, 2012

Old Cars Weekly editor Angelo Van Bogart sits down with Joe Kaufmann during a 2010 interview.

This story first appeared in the Sept. 9, 2010, issue of Old Cars Weekly. We are posting it today to remember the legendary Joe Kaufmann, who died Monday, June 11. By John Gunnell Joe Kaufmann of Manitowoc, Wis., is … More »

Categories: Editor's Picks, Hobby News | Tags: Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, Joe Kaufman, Joe Kaufmann, Merlyn Kaufmann | Leave a comment

Join the Yellowstone Trail Sociability Run

raustin | May 22, 2012

Explore the history of Wisconsin’s portion of the Yellowstone Trail by joining the dawn-to-dusk Tin Lizzie Sociability Run between Hudson and Marshfield the weekend of June 2-3. What is the Yellowstone Trail? In 1912, motorists wanted to travel long distances. … More »

Categories: Editor's Picks, Hobby News | Tags: car route, historic automobile route, roads, sociability run, Tin Lizzie, Wisconsin, Yellowstone Trail | Leave a comment

Wartime Fords report for duty

raustin | May 21, 2012

Ford Motor Co. has a long history of building vehicles, or at least supplying engines, for United States military. Some of the memorable and collectible of all vintage U.S. vehicles were produced by Ford. Following are some of the most important Blue Oval machines ever to wear olive drab. More »

Categories: Editor's Picks, Features | Tags: Ford, Jeep, military vehicles | 2 Comments