Back To School With DRAG CARTOONS September, 1970

James Dean Crash Photos September 30th, 1955

   

These are previously locked-away photos of the remains of the James Dean Porsche Spyder that he was driving to a sports car racing competition, when his car crashed into a Ford at the junction of California State Route 46 and California State Route 41. 

Dean was just 24 years old.

KING OF THE SPEEDWAY! Big Little Book 1939

Tim Burton on Set of ‘Edward Scissorhands’ with an AMC Matador. (and Winona Ryder)

More Vintage Car Wristwatches

Pontiac, I assume...

"Ask the Man Who Owns One"

Franklin Company Award watch

Working at the UAW Car Plant, The Kids Game!

I guess you can lump this in with Suzi Homemaker, chemistry sets and other "vocational" toys. But this one is a game I definitely would have wanted under my Christmas tree; The Game of Assembly!

Yes, you too can get child-sized carpal-tunnel syndrome, and pay union dues, all in the confines of your cozy tree fort.

1932 Coupe with TUPPERWARE TOP?

Imagine how the routine of leftovers might have been different, had Earl Tupper, of Tupperware fame, had a roaring success with his "pop-up" rumble-seat top. It was a good idea, but didn't really gain much traction; it's kinda ungainly, and it seems it's either a carbon monoxide deathtrap or a sweaty sauna, depending on the circumstances. Nevertheless, it all worked out for the best, as I can enjoy that leftover pasta the day after. Thanks, Earl!

1954 LeMans Vintage Info

The Barney Oldfield "GOLDEN SUBMARINE" Missing ....in Chicago?

The Golden Submarine (the sexier of the two bandied about sobriquets, the other being the Golden Egg) was a legendary racer as famous for its design as for its performances. Built by Harry Miller and Barney Oldfield in 1917, it was designed with driver protection in mind, featuring an ahead of its time roll-cage, and debuted at the Chicago Board Speedway.

Harry Miller beside the safety-first Golden Egg

Barney Oldfield with his ubiquitous cigar

But that revolutionary safety design came at a price. The car was so much heavier than it's competitors, that after some fair-to-middlin success and an aborted Indianapolis 500 attempt, the Submarine dived into the depths of forgotten history. No one knows its final disposition.

Now, thanks to the wonderful world of digital newspaper fracking, we can search and gather clues as to what became of this iconic creation. 

 It's ironic that this car made it's debut in Chicago, because that was probably its final resting place. According to news reports, 

The fabulous "Golden Submarine",  that stunning closed-cabin cruiser of the dirt, had crawled home like a King salmon in its last bit of life, to its birthplace. And then it disappeared for good, probably cut up for a bomber in the scrap war-drives a decade and change later. I like to think that majestic chunk of metal was girding some valiant B-17, arcing across the skies, protecting its charges like it did Barney on the tracks.

The 1977 Dodge BAJA BRUTE DESERT Dog

This is one that'd I'd buy with no haggling, a real-life rendition of the "Baja Brute", an MPC model from 1977. Love the color scheme, the stance and the lines, even though it's only 5 inches tall!

Vintage Car Crashes...How did anyone survive?

Looking at these vintage photos of car wrecks from the old days, I wonder how anyone survived before seat belts, airbags, crumple zones and ABS. 

The death rate was amazingly high back then, and a glance at these twisted, razor-sharp chunks of exposed metal is all you need to know why...

1940 Lincoln cruising through vintage New Mexico!

Speed Magazine cover , UK, 1935

Rare cover shot of the British "Speed" magazine #3, from August, 1935

1950's Indianapolis 500 "Nodder" Toy

Kingston Race Car Toy, 1920's - 1930's

George Kingston was an Indiana icon who developed a carburetor that was widely used by Ford in the 1920's. Interestingly, he decided to produce a line of automotive toys as well, featuring firetrucks, roller skates and race cars.

Here's a rare example of one of those metal cars, a racer and it's original box...enjoy!