My dad had one for a very short time. Perhaps he borrowed it?
Regardless, every time I see those rubber nipple bumpers, I think back to being 6 years old and pretending to be like Ali by punching the rubber.

Thanks for posting that Para.

quote:

Regardless, every time I see those rubber nipple bumpers,

Dagmars, they were named this after a populuar buxom TV star.. Historical Link



Leno has an eclectic car collection, I'd love to see it one day...

Brings back memories. One of my cousins in 64 after getting his 63 Impala repossessed bought a white 57 Coupe De Ville. He drove it like he approached life, last time I remember riding in it we were on the expressway doing 100. Next day while he was pulling into his driveway one of the ball joints separated…..

Second 57 memory, 1967, is an old h.s. classmate. As none of us had our licenses her year older sister took a few of us to one of the local malls. The classmate had a crush on me, my crush was on her sister. I got to sit next to her on the trip there.

Last one was pretty sad to me anyhow. This was in the early 80’s while living in the Southwest. Old guy, you could tell he had a rough life as well as his 57 did. Could barely walk, He was a old acquaintance of the car dealer I worked for there. Needed a tire puncture repair, while we normally didn’t do those we took care of it. What got my attention were the Sabre wheels on it, three of four hubcaps were missing. Also, back seat was filled with suitcases and clothing, he was on the move to somewhere.

One thing about that stood out was the rodeo belt buckle he was wearing. After he left a couple of people at the dealership knew his story. Back in the fifties and early sixties he was quite the rodeo competitor and the Cadillac was one of his prizes.

I always wonder if time reversed for him at least fleetingly while behind the wheel?

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Regardless, every time I see those rubber nipple bumpers,

Dagmars, they were named this after a populuar buxom TV star.. Historical Link



Leno has an eclectic car collection, I'd love to see it one day...

I see the resemblance!

My Great Aunt (1902 Vintage) inherited a late 50s red Coupe de Ville convertible when her husband passed in the early 60s.
He was 6’4”, she was 4’10” on her tallest day.
She had to sit on 3 Atlanta phone books just to see over the steering wheel. I have NO idea how she reached the pedals.
I remember being in awe of electric windows.
Billy

Back when cars had tits and men had balls.

My next door neighbor has a '57 El Dorado convertible......pink with white leather interior(factory colors) He restored it and keeps it very nice.

Jay Leno has an impressive collection.
I have been watching repeats of the old Perry Mason series from the '50s and '60s. The show featured some stunning cars.

Cadillac story:
In the late 60s, my old man showed up with a 59 Coupe de Ville. A previous owner had a fatal heart attack while he was parked in a rest stop. He was not discovered in the car until he had been reduced to a juicy goo. The insurance company involved totaled it and it was sold to someone who said he could "clean it up". Which he did, more or less. And my old man bought it cheap, even though he knew the cars history. Problem was, under certain weather conditions, there was a lingering odor of decomp in the car. As soon as my mother learned this story, she launched into an epic bitch fit and forced the old man to sell it. Too bad, because I was about get my drivers license and I could have cruised in the Coupe de Deathville!

Reminds me of my Dad's '57 Chevy Bel-Air and that huge steering wheel.

Jay Leno does a pretty good car of showcasing his cars. He knows so much about each car.

I've got those rubber bullet/boobs on my 59 Impala. I've racked my knees and legs on them. It hurts.

One of my grandfathers had something very similar, though I forget the model year, but late fifties.

I was facinated that the rear tail light housing moved so you could fill it with gasoline.

"You need a tug boat to change lanes..."

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Cadillac story:
In the late 60s, my old man showed up with a 59 Coupe de Ville. A previous owner had a fatal heart attack while he was parked in a rest stop. He was not discovered in the car until he had been reduced to a juicy goo. The insurance company involved totaled it and it was sold to someone who said he could "clean it up". Which he did, more or less. And my old man bought it cheap, even though he knew the cars history. Problem was, under certain weather conditions, there was a lingering odor of decomp in the car. As soon as my mother learned this story, she launched into an epic bitch fit and forced the old man to sell it. Too bad, because I was about get my drivers license and I could have cruised in the Coupe de Deathville!

My late friend Gordy’s dad in the late 60’s was partnered with a used car lot and used to acquire distressed cars and rebuild and recondition them. To give you an idea he bought a year old El Camino once (1968) that was rolled and repaired. How much bondo was used I couldn’t tell you. I know the roof had a bunch of ripples in it, solution was to put a vinyl top on it. And as it was a 307 Powerglide plain Jane he decided to dress it up with mag wheels. So he dug around, came up with two sets of two wheels, similar but different. Solution, two on one side, two on the other side. As he said “Nobody’s gonna see both sides the same time!”

Anyhow, his solution for decomp cars was those big bags of cedar shavings used for animal bedding. Two or three of those spread throughout the passenger compartment and the trunk, roll up the windows and let it sit in the sun for a week or two then replace seats, carpets and door panels.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
Reminds me of my Dad's '57 Chevy Bel-Air and that huge steering wheel.

I had a '56 Chevy for about 10 years. That large steering wheel is there to provide more torque, to help turning when you have no power steering. And to kill you with the metal cone shaped piece at the center of the wheel in a collision.

Check out Billy gibbons Cadzilla sometime

I used to hate it when I heard of people doing updates to vintage cars. I thought they should always be restored to the condition they were in when they left the factory.

Now I can see the wisdom in updating a lot of the components, especially if it's one you are going to routinely drive. He must have spent a fortune on that "free" car.

quote:

He must have spent a fortune on that "free" car.

I believe he mentioned ~$20K on just the chrome.

Sometimes lack of original parts (after decades) are just not available for 100% original restoration. You won't find any "original" tires (as it left the factory), either.

quote:

Originally posted by John Steed:
I used to hate it when I heard of people doing updates to vintage cars. I thought they should always be restored to the condition they were in when they left the factory.

Now I can see the wisdom in updating a lot of the components, especially if it's one you are going to routinely drive. He must have spent a fortune on that "free" car.

I was of the same school of thought....until my drum brakes worked intermittently. I upgraded to front disc brakes and it's been the best upgrade to our 59.

I'm a big fan of stopping.