Q. I’m hoping you or one of your readers can help me with regard to the differences in two Ford VIN plates that I have. One plate reads U4GC159436 followed by 76B R AE 5 G SL220C, while the other reads B3GV189715 and 60B L AC 24K KS36B. Both plates were taken from 1953...
Q&A
Q&A with Kit Foster: April 3, 2014
Q. I recently bought a replacement locking door handle for my 1929 Plymouth. What I got is an identical NOS, solid cast metal handle with the same contours and measurements. However, this one was painted with red primer and then in olive drab. From the few paint chips, there does not appear to be...
Q&A with Kit Foster: March 27, 2014
Q. A copy of your response to a letter from Donald Chepurna regarding GMC truck history (Q&A Dec. 12, 2013) was referred to me by Dan Bower, president of our Motor City Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society, for review and comments. Most of your response was correct, except for a few points...
Q&A with Kit Foster: March 20, 2014
Q. Here is background information related to the Sunoco antique car series coins (Q&A Feb. 27) that were given out as a sales promotion. If you obtained a special coin then Sunoco would send you a complete set of 25 in bronze. I have the complete Series 1 and 2 (of three sets). —...
Q&A with Kit Foster: March 13, 2014
Q. In the Jan. 2 Q&A, a reader asked if any U.S. make had a four-speed column shift. International Loadstar cabover trucks (before they took the Cargostar name in 1970) had a five-speed on the column. I don’t remember how the linkage was set up, but they were a little bit of a chore...
Q&A with Kit Foster: March 6, 2014
Q. I have shown this to several area old car experts and some antique car clubs but no one can identify it. One guess was an early Cadillac V8. It has two commutators. A stamped number on one side (75-373619) may be a part number. The layers of belting material on the one end...
Q&A with Kit Foster: February 27, 2014
Q. I was reading about the Sunoco antique car coins in the Q&A column (Jan. 9). It reminded me of an e-mail I received from a Pantown (a neighborhood in Saint Cloud, Minn.) homeowner. He was doing some remodeling in his house and found this Pan coin. He asked if I knew anything about...
Q&A with Kit Foster: February 13, 2014
Q. Chevs of the ’40s (Vancouver, Wash., www.chevsofthe40s.com, 877-735-0587) has 16-inch rims and Chevrolet offered a four-speed column shift in 1968 and ’69. I only saw one in all the years I spent in Chevy dealerships. — Frank Johnson, via e-mail A. Thanks. Arland Stellmacher also suggested Chevs of the ’40s for 16-inch from...
Q&A with Kit Foster: February 6, 2014
Q. You asked about the Sunoco/Franklin Mint coin set (Jan. 9). Glad to help. SERIES 1, 1968 1901 White (steamer) 1902 Studebaker (electric) 1903 Winton touring 1904 Autocar VIII 1905 Apperson B touring 1906 Franklin 1907 Locomobile racer 1908 Stanley 1909 Ford T 1910 Sears 1911 Mercer Raceabout 1912 Simplex Speedster 1913 Lozier Light...
Q&A with Kit Foster: January 30, 2014
Q. A friend of mine gave me this possible hood ornament. He said he thought it was off a Chevy wagon. I would like to know what year and model. Can you help me? — Gary Hilton, Torrance, Calif. A. You don’t tell us how big it is, so I suspect the picture is...