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Topic starter
01/04/2024 10:09 am
1957 found the auto industry heading for recession. Ford was even more worried about sales, given the lukewarm reception the new Edsel line received. CEO Henry Ford II told Chairman Ernest Breech that something had to be done quickly. Ford designers and marketing personnel pondered ways to increase sales and/or profitability, and began looking at markets that had not been tapped completely. One idea they hit upon was to make a car for rural America, one at home on the farm or for light industrial or construction applications. Clays were made, and then a full scale prototype was built using existing parts. When the time came to show off the team's work, all Henry II could do was say "No". The original was squirrelled away. Many thought it was just a rumor, or that the car had been scrapped.
But I found it last summer, sitting outside a small car museum in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.
Happy April 1 everyone!
01/04/2024 10:30 am
Thanks for that. Looks remarkably convincing, and with the shovel lowered some folks might even have found the car's frontal appearance more attractive.
And here's my own FoMoCo contribution for April 1st . . .
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
01/04/2024 10:54 am
Well done, gents. Harv's post got me!
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
01/04/2024 3:22 pm
I was a little disappointed that my attempt at a '61 Continental station wagon failed to produce the cries of horror and outrage I had been hoping for to brighten my day. Obviously I misjusdged things rather badly and produced something so subtle and tasteful that people were prepared to give me the benefit of the doubt.
Hmmm. Must try harder.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
01/04/2024 3:31 pm
A commendable effort, Graeme. But it fails to garner the outrage you seek because it lacks the necessary chrome and gold 35" wire wheels with impossibly skinny tires. You may find some green accents in place of the woodgrain to be helpful as well. As it is portrayed, some of us are secretly saying, "Well, that's not all that bad."
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
01/04/2024 3:45 pm
Oh, what a blow. Following the response to my recent desecration of another cultural icon (the '63 Riviera) I thought I was on a roll, and that spittle would be copiously flecked across PC screens in all the corners of the earth.
Now the best I can hope for is someone slapping my wrists and telling me the world doesn't actually have corners. Which is just ridiculous. Surely any flat rectangular object like our beloved home planet must have corners? Stands to reason.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
01/04/2024 5:41 pm
Thank you Harv and everyone for the suitable banter on this auspicious date.
01/04/2024 6:20 pm
@graeme-ogg I liked your station-wagon, but the first thing I thought on seeing it was "that would look great with faux-wood paneling along the side!"
Topic starter
02/04/2024 6:33 pm
@graeme-ogg Well Graeme, the lack of outrage is probably because we are so used to high-end wagons. They have become part of the landscape, just ho-hum. To wit:
Well, seven of them anyway.
02/04/2024 7:20 pm
Can't take credit for this one but here's a 1956 Cadillac station wagon made by GLM, a replica of a Hess & Eisenhardt conversion. H & E were also known for the 1988 Jaguar XJS convertible conversions of which 1996 were done prior to Jaguar's factory convertible. H & E convertibles were not one of Jaguar's better offerings.
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA