Uncle-Pekka

Thank you Gregg for very through answer(*. In Finland it is not that easy to find 225 wheels for Dodge bolt pattern, thus I think I better stick on the 215 and just wait until the supplier will get new batch. After all the car will be garaged yet two-three months more for the winter... P.S. *) This forum is just the greatest chat room on the real things on the globe. I am frequently surprised how fast I will get replied whatever I am asking. Living in central Finland, there are not many fellows around in the neighbourhood with fourties Mopars to ask...

Mates, I know this subject has been discussed a dozen times at the forum, but after searching 15min I could not find the exact info I was after... I'd like to install as big radials as possible in order to get smooth ride and engine revs low. I already ordered 215/75R15, but the supplier is short of this size. He'd have 225/75R15 for only a couple of bucks more. Tire size chart says 215 is for rim width 5.5"...7" and 225 for 6"...7.5" How wide are the 15" rims of a 1948 dodge? Has any of you experience on 225/75R15 size? -pekka

Thanks to Bill for through history of Popeda and Volga. Much of the Russian car industry before and right after WW2 owed to US. However, I belive that both of those cars were 100% russian design and shared no parts with any western car. There are other stories to Russia more closely related to US, though: In 1932 Henry Ford sold the entire model A manufacturing line to Russia. They produced the model A touring phaeton and commercial truck until the early fourties (I will edit to add the model names later on). After the war the production line of Packard 110 was also sold to russians. The car (named ZIL, if my memory serves) was strictly for the party elite; Stalin and the members of the duma and politbyro. Later on obsolete production instruments of early 50's Packard were also bought to Russia for the next luxury car, the ZIM. Another story is the birth of the first russian car for the common people (if there were any such thing - car for commons), the Moskvitsh. When the russian troops occupied Germany in last fights of WW2 they raided the production line of Opel. The small Opel Kadett introduced 1936 and discontinued under the war was transplanted to russia and produced exactly the same by name of Moskvitsh until late fifties. These cars were imported by masses also to Finland - A horrible car featuring bad handling and underpowered small four... My father always said to steer the moskvitsh was like to walk a frightened pig on a icy road - whatever it means, it is a interesting comparison.

Is there a dealer or net-shop offering that Chinese puller? (in the picture of the 1st message)

Judging by wheels, fenders, steering wheel and windshield frame it looks like a brass-era model-T, 1913 or earlier. Very nice photograph, it really catches "the spririt of motoring".

I received just yesterday this type of unit from JCW. Unfortunately will not have a chance to install it but in March, because the Dodge is garaged for winter 200 miles from my house... Unit looks decent, though.

It is a Renault R2104, a commercial version of the famous R4 (french rival for the beetle). This is 1962 car, the first year it was produced. Body is good, but floors are gone due to 20-30 years outside storage. Also suspension & brakes are jammed to solid chunks of rust. Fortunately it shares most of the parts with the R4 car, thus good donors are available.

Well, I drive my wife crazy. At least that's what she said when I dragged this to our "garden"... ...yes, you're right - it is not Chrysler Corp. product...

Looks like FINLAND is leading the race with a handsome margin to the runner up for now... May we get the numbers from Norway - Hello, Norway, this is Finland calling...

I wish I was living in the US... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Sharp-nice-working-1951-Chrysler-Windsor-4-dr-sedan_W0QQitemZ220189059487QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item220189059487

A Dodge 230 head has been for sale quite a while, now the seller lowered the price from $25 to $12,50. Someone living near Twin Cities, Mn, might have a good deal here... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190138481935&rd=1 Seller, "Gregg's speed shop" has parted a 230, thus has some other parts for sale as well there.

Dennis, The full moons & white walls look extrrremely sharp on your Volvo! It would be interesting to hear american opinion on this subject, but to me it appears, that Volvo design studio has been extremely strong inspired by american cars all throught from 1927 to present. As a matter of fact, Volvo, even independent until 2000, has been more american styled than, e.g. GM of Europe (Opel, Vauxhall). I suppose this was because of their main market from 1950's on has been the States, but the style was there already in 20's and 30's. Check the followings pages: http://www.volvocars.com/corporation/Heritage/History/default.htm http://www.fvn.no/amcar/brochures/others/volvo27/volvo27.html

"The Blessed Zink coated Sheetmetal"? - Yes, I did receive the report, but sorry, I was paralyzed because of the Julbråttom/Xmas craze, thus unable to respond... Solid floors you got there. Let 'em be - no effect to the top speed/ei vaikuta huippunopeuteen...

Hi Jim, That's very useful job you've done. The original black & white is hard to read. I let you know my e-mail if you please... B.r., Pekka

Right to the point! - Gregg, you know how to put it all in one sentence!

Well, Scandinavia, at least Finland, Sweden and Norway are a bit different from the middle European countries. The distances from city to city (or town to town) are much longer here than in other side of the Baltic sea. Also it has been hard and expensive to build roads here because of the winter and ground frost. Therefore the roads were quite poor until the sixties. We have always appreciated big and powerful cars. I probably told this earlier, when introducing myself at the forum, but until the WW2 american cars were very popular in Finland and Sweden. I presume they offered best performance and reliability in these conditions per dollar (or markka). After the war Finland was very poor and also the goverment regulated currency spent on import goods. The import of american cars was released no sooner but 1951 or -52. However few could afford big cars in the fifties. In sixties Chevys, Dodges, Plymouths and Fords were once again gaining popularity, but the oil crisis in early 1970's stroke bad on Finland. Another thing has been culture & politics. As you know the time after the war was very hard pressure on Finland by the Soviets. There was continous thread of Soviet take over from the fourties until late sixties. The goverment chose a policy of friendship. Still the people were as majority against russian policies. In general american way of life was widely admired and therefore also american cars, clothing style, music and movies were admired. It was not any underground counter act as it probably has been in countries like Estonia or Hungary, but merely a fashion or style. Anyway it was a subtle hint, that we want to choose our own way. Third reason may be some sort of mental relation. It is a bit difficult to explain, but Anglo-american music, litterature and humor has always appealed to us more than e.g. middle or south European. It may be related even to protestant religion or a culture of working in difficult conditions. What the heck am I explaining, it cannot be this complicated! -Actually it is just more chrome, displacement and the power steering!!!

(...16 hours later...) Well, the helmet and safety goggles (black) were merely for head protection while messing with the fireworks; the bubling drink (alka selzer?) was digestive after all that ham during Christmas (...seemed like a good idea, but that was yesterday night...) and finally the hub cap... I do not remember for what it was... Anyway that is one of the bad hub caps, beyond repair (as Yours truly appears today) Another year has now begun.

It is ten past midnight 1st January 2008 in Finland. Cheers to Ya'll good people on the P15/D24 net society! May the New Year 2008 be good to us all! Best Wishes from Finland, Pekka aka en_finne_igen

Ok, Norm, I'll take some photos of the process. I did the same job som 15...20 yrs back with similar vent window of my 1962 Renault. That time I succeed, hope it goes as good this time... I'll post photos after the holidays.

Cheers Tim, Actually the emblem went to my buddy Pentti K. to his immaculate business coupe. - However I am fitting the vent windows glasses this Christmas to my own sedan. I already made a wooden jig to be able to press in the glass to the original chrome frame, I'll be posting some pics on January. Also my front sofa will benefit the seat lever from your garage! Thanks again, Pekka

Merry Christmas to All of you good folks at the P15-D24 forum! You are the Best car nut crowd on the Globe! Always helpful and willing to share the experiences, appreciating all kinds of cars and builders. Let's keep it as good as it is - for the years to come. Merry greetings from Finland, Pekka

Welcome to the crowd Mr. 1/2 Dollar, may we call you 50 cent? (sorry, I had to let it out...) Veery handsome ride you have! Fabulous rear end, as I often do say... I like it just the way it is. To me the black primer does not look dull at all, on the contrary it underlines the flowing lines quite nicely.

Argh! Der echte original SpitSfire! - Must have it! How much for the Head? Me will pay your price! Und da douple price for der Shitsfired, for the man in da back row...

P.o.S.

Judging by the hood cowl and the louver pattern in the sides of the hood, I would say it is a 1931. The grille does not look Buick to me, but then again a big part of it is hidden behind the girl... If Don had not called it Buick, I would have said 1929 Chrysler by the little part of the grille and the radiator cap. Also louvers at the side of the hood are quite similar in earlier Chrysler. Edit: BUT it has wire wheels, thus it has to be post 1930 - I stay in 1931.