Dan Hiebert

I always liked Cosmo's DeSoto....

Elk City, OK is on Interstate 40, about 40 miles east of the Texas state line. In our travels from west Texas and New Mexico to visit family in New Jersey over the years we always saw the signs for the Rt 66 Museum, but always thought it would be too cheesy to stop in, or were in a rush to get to the east coast. We always seemed to reach Elk City at the point of the trip where we didn't feel like stopping yet. Don't know what I was thinking, since "cheesy" places along the road are usually always a hoot! On the move from NM to MI we finally stopped, and promptly lamented not having stopped before. The Rt 66 Museum is certainly not "cheesy" and I would encourage anyone traveling the old Mother Road through Oklahoma to stop and visit.

3 inches (supposedly) in western New York, too. But the wind was howling so much over the weekend that it couldn't pile up, even in drifts. Sun out today and on the way into the 40's again later in the week.

The "shelf" you describe is indeed a foot rest for back-seat passengers. From what I've seen, all the vehicles with a back seat have that foot rest. The lack of that foot rest would probably indicate that the vehicle that particular seat came out of did not have a back seat - such as a business coupe. But, I don't know if the MoPaR convertible products were available with or without a back seat. In short, I'd use the foot rest version if my car had a back seat.

I was figuring that's how most swap meets go, and I really don't mind looking through unorganized stuff and asking the vendors about their wares - that's half the fun, but to find what you want you have to hit 100% of the spaces. I just suspect I'm borderline OCD with organizing MY stuff. This one being indoors made it REALLY crowded, I've a couple co-workers that left without seeing the whole thing because they were fed up with the crowd. I also found two things I needed for my daughter's Falcon. Almost like looking for bugs in your garden, you have to look past all the pretty things (unless your looking for something pretty). Anyway, I'd still recommend this swap meet - much better than sitting around the house waiting for spring.

Something simple - like the red P15-D24 square at the top of the page. That would look great on a coffee cup, ballcap, or window decal. On anything, actually.

Greetings all! Went to the 10th annual "Snow Buster Indoor Automotive Swap Meet" yesterday at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY. Sponsored by the Niagara Frontier chapter of the Model A restorer's club. Well worth the trip, couple hundred vendors, but you could barely move through the venue (it was indoors - proper for February around here although it was nice out - for here). The crowd was tapering off about mid-day, I've never attended a swap meet before, so I guess everyone tries to get there early to find what they want before someone else does - that and "prepping" for the Superbowl. Really have to know what your looking for because there is LOTS of stuff and didn't seem too well organized to find anything in particular- in my mind anyway - it was probably status quo for a swap meet. I'll just have to go to more to figure that out. Anyway, there wasn't much in the MoPaR realm, and I only found one item for P15-D24, which I dutifully snapped up - finally have an owner's manual after 20 years

The Troopers in Texas were pretty hard on "obstructed vision" everywhere I was back in my formative days, and readily pulled you over for stuff hanging on the rearview mirror or too much motor sticking up out of the hood. Anything hanging in the windshield in south and west Texas doesn't last very long anyway. That and my Dad always preached about "winder hangins" being a distraction. I've got the B&C's garter from our wedding hanging on the ol' Dodge's mirror, otherwise I prefer not to have anything in the middle of the windshield. Probably kind of silly since that division bar is there.....

It is a Diamond T. They dabbled in the "light" truck market, but they didn't offer any 1/2 tons, I think all of their pick-ups were heavy duty 3/4 or 1 ton.

...and besides which - they're "bubs"....

North 54 Auto Salvage in Alamorgordo, NM has several of these in its yard when it comes tome to look for bits and pieces. I used to wander through that yard quite a bit, and was always drawn to these old postal trucks, thought they were too cool!

Unknown if this is what you tried, but the hands may be press-fitted on the shafts and could be pulled straight off, then re-attached back where they should be. I've worked on a Ford and a Hudson clock that were assembled that way, but not a MoPar one.

Seems he was going for an old steam locomotive look. It does look "sinister", which could be his whole intent, but I otherwise don't care for it myself. I used a 67 Fairlane SW as a cow catcher a long time ago (not on purpose) and I didn't need any modifications.

Andy Bernbaum was the very first place I found parts for my D24 waaay back when. Whether you like his bedside manner or not (I never had any issues with attitude, service, or knowledge - except maybe that I've had a trunk lock cylinder on "back-order" there for about 18 years ) he and his business are an old MoPar institution that will be missed. If for nothing else but the service and knowledge he provided me - I wish him well in whatever endeavor he takes up. Given his demeanor I'd be willing to bet he wouldn't turn his business over to just anyone, and I eagerly anticipate what comes next.

On Main, a couple blocks south of 14 Mile, right? It was a tad out of my way, but was(is) highly recommended. Was in the area for work one day and stopped in for lunch. I liked it enough to return a few times off-duty with the family.

Well, your only a stone's throw from either Hershey or Carlisle when those events come around. If you can't find what you want there, it probably doesn't exist.

I'm not certain of the depth of the cracks, I just saw that they're there and filed it away as another project. It still looks really good from outside the car, but they are certainly noticeable when "behind the wheel". Thanks for the tips, I'll attack it that way first. I was all set to take the drastic measures route again.

A cautionary note - when I left the D24 out on the driveway to paint in the garage a couple weeks ago, the cold caused all my steering wheel repairs to crack again. That was the "extreme" cold snap when it didn't get over 10 degrees for a couple days. The 30-40 degree range didn't have any effect.

Cool pic - I've been to Grumpy's a few times - but its been a while.

When my brother and I were 10 or so (we're twins), our dad would let us take turns sitting on his lap to steer the car (63 Ford Galaxie, or "unknown year" first model IH Scout) driving down whatever highway we happened to be on. Learned to actually drive when I was 14 or 15 in a 72 IH Scout II, manual tranny, of course. All off-road at first, but gradually moved onto pavement. During my Jr. and Sr. years in high school, it was one of my chores to haul the trash to the dump "as needed". Needless to say the trash needed hauling (in my opinion, anyway) two or three times a week, and my dad HAS to know I was visiting friends on the way - but he never let on.

My brother is a State Trooper in Conroe. He said they're getting that steady rain as well, which they really need. He usually gets stuck dealing with flooding, but last year it was fires. Most of our marked patrol vehicles are retrofitted in Bastrop, outside of Austin. We're still getting them covered in ash from those fires last summer, you'uns in Texas and New Mexico can sure use the soakers.

I remember a few of those. I used to watch that show just for the spontaneous answers in hopes of catching the occasional zinger. Thanks for posting, always good to start the day in good humor.

I called up Napa, they asked for the original manufacturer's paint code, and viola - "Original color". The store I go to has to order their paint in, but I ordered it in the morning and they had it that afternoon. Acme for the pimer/surfacer, and Martin Secour for the color. I'm happy with it. I ran other colors by them for giggles, and all they need is that original manufacturer paint code (not the paint company's number) - usually found on the manufacturer's data plate, but there are several websites that can provide that info, too.

When I was in High School I read an article about a State Marshal in California who restored and upgraded a 1936 Dodge for his police car (I'm curious what became of that car). That got my attention, and except for when I was in the Army, then living in New Jersey before I joined the Border Patrol, I've always had an "old" car in the stable. In order - 67 Ford Fairlane station wagon, 66 Chrysler Imperial, 55 Ford F-100, 54 Chevy sedan (the only one I discovered I didn't like after I bought it, but it was cheap), 52 Ford F-3, 48 Dodge D24 (still have it), 56 Ford Country Wagon, 54 Willys station wagon, 56 Ford Mainline 2dr (to put the Thunderbird engine out of the wagon into), 60 Ford F-100, 76 Ford Torino station wagon (put its driveline into the F-100), 37 Terraplane (still have it), and a 63 Ford Falcon (gave it to my daughter, but still working on it). I guess you can call that eclectic, but the one car I've had and enjoyed the longest is the D24, just something about MoPar that catches my fancy. I kind of like the challenge of fixing them up and keeping them running more than actually driving them, I get bored when there's nothing to fix. Perhaps a bit wierd, but there it is. Maybe that explains why I've never brought myself to buy a "finished" one.