The Diecast Zone · Model Car Club Since 1994

Diecast Collector Forums

Eight forums, every scale, and thirty years of shop talk — new arrivals, restorations, reviews, and the finds you won’t see posted anywhere else, with the full archive back to 2002 restored and searchable. Free to Register.

8Forums
195,000+Topics
1,276,000+Posts
10,000+Members

PIC--Awhile back Ri...
 
Notifications
Clear all

[Closed] PIC--Awhile back Rick and I remarked that we recalled twin antennas on late 50's-early 60's station

11 Posts
6 Users
0 Reactions
16 Views
FrankR
(@fmr)
Famed Member
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 2560
Topic starter  

PIC--Awhile back Rick and I remarked that we recalled twin antennas on late 50's-early 60's station wagons to a sceptical Forum. Although he and I both believed that they appeared on Mopar wagons, we could not track down a confirming picture or brochure. However, I recently ran across a picture of a currrent 1:43 rock star, the 1957 Packard Clipper station wagon in lilac and white,with dual antennas.
photo no longer available



   
(@Joel Tompkins)
Joined: 1 second ago
Posts: 0
 

Very Nice! Thanks Frank!



   
(@michel-lemieux)
Famed Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 2537
 

(Pics)Two antennas at the rear look cool but why two antennas?

Did you see the 1957 Packard Clipper country sedan built by John Roberts, Frank?
Here are two pictures. Awesome!

photo no longer availablephoto no longer available



   
(@rick-thompson)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 6993
 

For no other reason than they looked cool, Michel, as you said.

Obviously one of them was a dummy, non-functional antenna but they just looked good, particularly on MoPars and Chevies of the late '50s and early '60s. They served no real purpose other than to make the car look cool.

And, of course, the look didn't work on all cars. By the way, I found a nice photo of a '58 "Packardbaker" station wagon with dual rear antennae, too. Haven't been able to find any pictures of late-'50s Mopar station wagons with dual antennae, but I do remember seeing them.



   
FrankR
(@fmr)
Famed Member
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 2560
Topic starter  

Like Rick said, because they looked sharp. And that JR wagon also looks sharp!



   
FrankR
(@fmr)
Famed Member
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 2560
Topic starter  

PIC--But if the car didn't look that good, not even the twin antennas could help make it cool

Here's the picture that Rick found of the 1958 Packard wagon with twin antennas.
photo no longer available
Thank goodness Rick didn't have a picture of that ugly 1958 Packardbaker front end.



   
(@michel-lemieux)
Famed Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 2537
 

LOL. Nothing to do with the reception of AM radio?

Just for fun, without success, i tried to find a picture of a mopar station wagon of 50's with two antennas, even in french.
Thank you, guys.



   
(@john-roberts)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 9219
 

My mistake! I should have put twin antennae on.

The problem is that if they're too thick they don't look right. I had to lie down for a week after making that roof rack!



   
renato bardi
(@renato-bardi)
Noble Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 1066
 

John,this rack roof is beautiful;the tailgate is from a Stud Conestoga, both models sharing the same tailgate....I don't know it until to see your pix in this forum.I never see in Europe this beautiful cars...



   
(@rick-thompson)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 6993
 

Your lovely wagon is correct, John, because the twin antennae were optional, not standard equipment. And two-thick antennas, as most of the ones in 1/43 are, would have detracted from the overall excellent look of your model. Finding scale antennas for our cars is a real challenge, and I never have been able to find the angled twin antennae I was looking for to add to a few of my cars.

The best ones I've seen are on Franklin Mint's tri-tone Packard Caribbean. I stabbed myself with one when I was taking the car apart after it bent in the middle like a banana.



   
FrankR
(@fmr)
Famed Member
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 2560
Topic starter  

The "optional" "twin" antenna for AM radio was an inverted coat hanger :<))



   
Share: