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Topic starter
21/01/2022 11:45 am
As a little kid in the late '40s and early '50s, I was always fascinated with automotive jewelry. To the age of five, my mother used to take me up the hill to Brooklyn Heights. I had no idea how wealthy the neighborhood back then was. All I remember being able to identify the hood ornaments on Pierce-Arrows, Duesenbergs, Packards and the like (yeah, it must have been a rich neighborhood). At about six, we moved to New Jersey as they built the BQE right through our apartment complex. By that time, I was into all things rockets, jets and space. My parents always watched "Douglas Edwards and the News" that was sponsored by Oldsmobile sporting the ringed globe and rocket. (side note: In my early teens, I'd take frequent trips to the local junkyards and pry off all the neat ornaments and badges I could get including later the jet ornament from my '56 Merc which I had nosed and decked. Sadly, when I got back from the army, my parents had thrown every thing away).
Anyway, when DM did this '55 Olds Rocket 88 convertible, it brought back some smiles and memories.
21/01/2022 2:03 pm
GREAT photography my friend. But judging from your memories, you must be about 30 or 40 years older than me. HA! God; where do the years go Rich?? 
Topic starter
21/01/2022 3:27 pm
Yeah, so much of my life is now ancient history. When we get off the Verrazano bridge in Brooklyn, I tell my daughters I used to live under it. LOL
21/01/2022 3:32 pm
Nice story Rich, great pics as always. That model was about my third DM, bought from Roy Rauch, getting close to 20 years ago now.
21/01/2022 3:51 pm
Super writeup and pictures Rich. I have the same memories of automobile badges and ornaments as you. A big part of why I collect the little cars is nostalgia.
21/01/2022 10:01 pm
Great model and pics Rich. I loved "shopping" at wrecking yards in the past, but there's not much in them that interests me today.
Topic starter
22/01/2022 11:48 am
@pete-rovero In the old days, I'd bring a few simple tools and they'd let you rummage around all day. I'd show them a bag of goodies and the guy would say, "two bucks". Nowadays, you tell them the part you need and you sit in a waiting room while the computer locates the part, someone gets it and you pay 70% of NOS for it. Aaah, the good old days.
Pete Rovero and Pete Rovero reacted