Hemmings Classic Car August 2016

“Rarely do cars stop me in my tracks, but this dark blue Suburban most certainly did.” Suburban Sensation On a regular basis, we learn of significant automobiles that are worthy of being featured in Hemmings Classic Car, but seldom, if ever, are those prospects Plymouths. So it was with great interest that I opened an envelope one day a few years ago containing a photograph of the incredible 1950 Plymouth Suburban featured in this issue on page 42. Rarely do cars stop me in my tracks, but this dark blue Suburban most certainly did. What I like best about this conservatively styled American beauty is just that — its unadventurous, plain Jane appearance. It’s all business, and nothing more. The deep-blue exterior is a real working-man’s color, and with…

Orphans at the River THE VETERAN MOTOR CAR CLUB OF AMERICA will be hosting a tour around the Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, area. The tour is eligible specifically for orphan makes or any American company that is now defunct; cars must be over 25 years old. Recently ended marques such as Pontiac and Mercury are also welcome. The tour will take place along the Mississippi River and cover different museums in southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa. You must be a VMCCA member to participate, so be sure to visit their website and sign up if you’d like to attend. For more information, contact Marilyn Leys, Tour Registrar, at marl@centurytel.net or 608-326-0862. Lincoln Roundup THIS YEAR’S SECOND ANNUAL LINCOLN HOMECOMING will take place August 10-14 in Hickory Corners, Michigan. The event…

Galesville Limited IT’S AMAZING WHAT WE CAN FIND IN OUR OWN FILES WHEN WE GO DIGGING FOR something completely unrelated. Take, for instance, this photo of the Galesville Limited, a homebuilt motorhome constructed by L. John Schilling of Galesville, Wisconsin. Schilling was quite the personality, apparently. After studying engineering at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, he returned to his father’s farm and began inventing, starting with an electric fence and moving on to automatic milkers. Then in the early 1950s, after becoming mayor of his town and fathering eight children with his wife, Alette, he decided to see the country, so he built the motorhome, which according to the photo caption, had an engine at both ends and eating/sleeping/laundry facilities for the whole fam-damily. In it, the brood saw…

Hawkeye Petroliana RICH PENN AUCTIONS PRESENTS THE Iowa Gas Auction, the opening event of the Iowa Gas Show, which is expected to sell over 500 lots of desirable petroliana, all without reserve. Porcelain and metal signs, displays, globes, pumps and a variety of other fuel-related memorabilia will all be available. The auction is slated to take place August 3 at noon in Des Moines at the Holiday Inn/Airport. Consignments are still being accepted, so if you’re in the Midwest and want to sell some old petroliana, contact Rich Penn Auctions at 319-291-6688, or visit its site at www.richpennauctions.com. Palm Beach Results BARRETT-JACKSON CONCLUDED its 14th annual Palm Beach Auction this April and saw total sales over $23.2 million. High-performance cars and exotics were a large part of the auction, but…

Pontiac Concept & Show Cars 800-551-4754 • WWW.CARTECHBOOKS.COM  • $39.95 Well-known Pontiac historian Don Keefe has created a book that all car enthusiasts — especially Pontiac owners — will greatly enjoy reading. It’s the first in-depth book that focuses solely on all the unique concept and show cars that Pontiac created, including the Parisienne, Strato Streak, Club de Mer, X-400, and both Bonneville Specials. But more than just concept cars, Don explores the many special muscle cars that never were, such as the 1971 Firebird Pegasus, ’73 Super Duty GTO and Grand Am station wagon, and the rarely seen ’69 SE 101 steam-powered Grand Prix. From the 1939 Plexiglass-body World’s Fair show car to the 2006 Supercharged LSX Solstice, Pontiac engineers were well known for creating the most outstanding concepts of…

Controlled Inflation BendPak’s Hush-Quiet rotary-screw air compressor can meet the compressed-air demands of high-volume repair facilities and dealerships. It’s the perfect compressor if you work in a noise-conscious area, as the super-silenced insulated enclosure will keep it quiet, while the unique design results in trouble-free operation with no need to worry about piston rings, valves, rod-inserts, bushings and pistons. There are no valve components to service, reducing long-term operating costs. The pump style is a rotary screw that traps air between two contra-rotating rotors. As the rotors intermesh, they reduce the volume of trapped air and deliver it compressed, at the proper pressure level. Visit BendPak for an extensive list of features and specs. Cost: $4,250. BENDPAK 805-933-9970 WWW.BENDPAK.COM Chevy Cowl Lens The Filling Station is now offering…