An American four cylinder touring car

 

903 isn't enough anymore

 After 6 years at 903 cc, Kawasaki bumped up the displacement of their flagship to 1015cc in 1977. With the Goldwing at 1000 cc, Suzuki on the verge of releasing the GS1000, and the Yamaha XS1100 in the wings, Kawasaki must have been feeling a bit threatened.

Bug-eyed Sprite

Better get the roof up, quick!

 

First Zeppelin shot down by an airplane

Pilot Reginald Warneford intercepted Zeppelins LZ-37, 38 and 39 on their bombing raid on Calais on June 7, 1915. He dropped six 20 lb. bombs on the LZ-37, catching it on fire. It crashed onto a convent school, killing two nuns. Below we have two artist's interpretations of the event.

Gordon Crosby

Get one quick before they sell out

 Actually, the wife will never go for one of those, see below.

Taco mower and rake

 When we moved to the hobby farm in the late sixties, machines like this were still being used by neighbours for haying. The long horse drawing tongue was cut down for use behind an Allis Chalmers B or other light tractor. One kid drove, the other lifted and lowered the bar. Whole fields 5. feet. at. a. time. When they say no frills or furbelows, they actually mean safety hadn't been invented.

Short Sunderland on the water

 

Ayr-Bug

The Ayr Bug was a 1970s snowmobile wheel kit to convert for use in the summer. It was was offered by the long-gone S.P.M. Metal Products of Burnaby BC. It seemed to be a better option than the 3 wheel Wunder Wheels kit. Neither caught on. The owner of this machine said the installation was not straightforward or easy but that it is fun to drive. More here.

 

Davidsleds

Schnacke Mid-Jet outboard motor

 

I was doing a bit of light reading of the Intertec Publishing Outboard Motor Service Manual (5th edition Vol 1, 1970 edition) as one might do on a quiet Sunday evening even if one had never owned an outboard motor- and hope to never do so... I chanced upon this ducted propeller outboard motor built in Evansville, Indiana from 1961 to 1965. Definitely the outboard of the future- and perhaps its time still hasn't arrived. Powered by a Clinton powerhead, perhaps the shape of the ducting wasn't efficient enough to compete with straight propeller-driven motors, nothing a little computer modelling and simulation couldn't fix, but it does seem to be a good idea. Photos here, wonder if the name was pronounced Midget- or Mid-Jet?

Sidecar Sunday

Could this be the return of Captain Doakes?