Friday, September 17, 2021

Rabbit convertible in the 'hood



 

Or as VW saw it, a Volkswagen Cabriolet. Always a cute little car, they've become quite collectible.

Star Trek meets Hot Wheels


 Remember that episode where a badly drawn Captain Kirk drove a big tough hot rod truck with his likeness plastered on the side? 

No? me neither, what were they thinking?

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Crescent Sure Grip 56 nail puller


We all know this common but infrequently used tool.  It's a very useful tool for deconstruction, but I'm sure we've pretty much all  learned that the more accurate name could be Sure-Pinch, from the blood blisters raised on the outside of the little finger and the nearby part of the palm (that has no name).


 

Brooklands Battleship


 When the supercharged Bentley was developed by  the first model completed was fitted with a streamlined nose and configured as a single seater. Running on a 130 inch wheelbase, this racer would  have to be counted along with the Russian ZIS among the largest of race cars. More here.

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Suspension, 1923 Beardmore Precision

Another of the random posts of unusual suspensions systems.  On any bike of the time, suspension on the rear was uncommon, and this inventive use of a leaf spring "monoshock" is interesting.

Leaf springs weren't unknown in front suspension at that time though this front end is unusual. I'm not clear how it works, I think the main fork to the axle pivots at the steering head, as do the connecting links to the leaf spring, seems like it might be a little flimsy.





 

Steamer Empire

The paddlewheeler Empire, launched in 1844, was one of the new breed of steam-powered large and luxurious lake boats that transformed travel on the Great Lakes. Looking through its history, it had an eventful life.



 

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Citroen DS Drophead cabriolet


  Convertible conversion of the Citroen DS. To me this is just a weird looking car. Bottom image from Tumblr looks ok though... There were different versions. The custom body shop, Chapron did some in the sixties and seventies.  This one is from Dee Ess Conversions of Malvern, England in the late eighties. Wonder how many of these were made? More here.  



 
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Panasonic CDs, 1987


CDs had been introduced in 1982, by this time-1987- I think I had bought all my favorite music for the third time, in different formats...

Monday, September 13, 2021

Starting early

Classic Motorcycling Legends No 27

 10 year old Stuart Graham gives his MV factory racer father Les Graham a ride. Dad seems pretty relaxed. 

Bad news, the next year a crash at the Isle of Man killed Les Graham. Stuart Graham started racing motorcycles in 1961 at 16 years of age. More here.

Corroded cold chisel question

A reader sends in this picture of a cold chisel he has found.  I find the hitting end unusually small, sis it used to be a point before someone started hitting it? But in any case, corrosion has eaten the detail of the makers name to the point of unreadability. My guess is Brown, other guesses, might be Boyd or Row, or Bow? anyone?


Thanks, Inno!