I graduated in 1956, just had my 50th reunion. Our year was the first
with many of the students having cars. By Graduation I had 2, a '33
Chevy Coupe (paid $50) with hood off and PAINTED whitewalls, and a '49
Ford coupe (paid $400). Big decision leaving for school, was which one
to drive. My parents had 1 car a '55 DeSoto all door, and Mom didn't
drive then. I have had at least 2 cars ever after.
Loved Customs and so went to work at a body shop after school and Sat
morns. Sold the '33 and bought a '40 Chevy Coupe with a souped up Jimmy
engine with split manifold and dual glass packs. We used to pour gas in
them (off the car!) and burn out the fiberglass. One buddy had a new
'55 Ford Crown Vikky and we would take off the mufflers on Fri. evening
and replace them with rain downspout pipe.... LOUD!
In those days loud mufflers was a moving violation and I lost my
license over them. My wife had to take me to and from work driving a
'49 Mercury custom convert while very pregnant. It had frenched
headlights, formed hood scoops, rounded hood and door corners shaved
everything, elec. solinoids with micro swiches in the 1/4's to open the
doors and trunk, Turnpike Cruiser fender skirts, long side Lakes pipes,
lowered and duals. Later got a '51 Merc vert and switched everything
over to it 'cause I liked the lines of the back end better. It ended up
with a Naugihyde (?) top, white with gold piping around the edges. The
top shop gave me a great price as they wanted to see what it looked
like and see if it would be a good product.
I still love a nice set of pipes and all my Chryslers have California
Turbos on them and my Dakota has duals and only a little muffler which
splits the exhaust into 2 pipes.
Yea, those were the days, and they're still stuck in our heads!
Ray
On Nov 3, 2006, at 10:58 PM, Ed Alleger wrote:
Yep, and don't forget the 'Bermuda Bell'. It mounted under the
floorboard with a hole drilled for the plunger to come through. To me
it clanged like the 'old street cars'. Also, the aluminum car club
plates that identified which club you belonged to. You hung it below
the rear bumper, if you had enough room with your car 'lowered'. I
still have mine, 'Hot Heads' out in the garage :). And you sure
could tell the sound of 'glass pack duals' on a Plymouth 6 from the V8
Ford.
Ed
'41 Ford Convt' (leaded,rear end lowered, w/ Lincoln push button door
releases) YES, those were the days!!!
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