1927 Chevrolet "Radiator" Watch

This is an odd piece; a Chevrolet award watch in the shape of a radiator, dated 1927, for "Making Quota" in used car sales.

I'd be more than thrilled to get this cool-shaped watch, complete with matching strap and Chevrolet insignia on both.

1955 AUTORAMA Show Program With 1955 Willys Bermuda Ad

Not only was the star of the show the legendary "Golden Sahara", but the back page of this program was a full-page ad for the rare 1955 Willys Bermuda, one of the last gasps of the American company before scooting off to South America.

Rare "WIN WITH CHRYSLER" 1969 1970 1971 1972 Promotions

Here's a promotional item I've never heard of, or seen anywhere.

It's a 1969 "Win With Chrysler" lucite paperweight encasing $100 in singles. It's crazy, and probably sat on some dealers desk at a high-profile Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth locale.

It isn't a fake, because it ties in with a smaller-scale keychain promotion around the same time that uses the identical font and colors. I have no other info on this, so feel free to make up a great story and pass it on!

1970's Dodge Dealer Handbook For Sales

Back in the day, Dodge would send it's dealers a helpful handbook designed to increase their sales. Some tips seem quaint now (beauty contests, steak cook-outs), but there are some great vintage pictures included, like one with Governor Tom McCall and the state of Oregon receiving a donation of a Dodge truck from a local dealer.

King of Speed, Arthur " Bluey" Wilkinson

1939 Churchman card #30

CALL ME DUKE Pulp Paperback, With Cool Car Shoot-out

The Gucci AMC Hornet Runabout

Deadly Car Crash Art, 1952

The Barney Oldfield Wristwatch...Bigger Than A Cylinder Head!?

Barney Oldfield needs no introduction. 
The man who ran old 999, set records almost every weekend, it seems, and was never without his trusty stogie, while racing or relaxing.
But whilst perusing the old newspapers of the day, I came across this picture, 

wherein Mr. Oldfield is showing off a gift "wristwatch", which judging from the size of it, is the forerunner to the largest Panerai watch built, or a pocket watch affixed to his wrist.

It turns out this gift turned up for auction a few years ago. It's a beauty, and went for a modest $23,000 dollars. It was a pocket watch after all, in 18kt gold, with a stunning design.

C. Four-body, "demi-bassine", solid, polished, monogrammed case back, hinged gold cuvette with inscription: “Barney Oldfield by David G. Joyce – May 30th 1916”. D. White enamel with painted Arabic numerals, outer minute and outermost chronograph divisions, sunk subsidiary dials for the seconds and the 30-minute register. Gold “Louis XVI" hands. M. Cal. 17''', maillechort, “fausses-côtes” decoration, 39 jewels, straight line counterpoised lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, “swan-neck” micrometer regulator, visible chronograph works, repeating on gongs by activating slide on the band. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 46 mm.Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 157153, case No. 270682. Made circa 1915 for Spaulding & Co., Chicago and presented to Barney Oldfield in 1916. Very fine, keyless, minute-repeating, 18K yellow gold pocket watch with split-seconds chronograph and register.

Patek's are top-shelf, unique watches, and this gift was no simple door prize. I have a feeling that the benefactor might have made a dollar or two betting on the outcome of a couple of Barney's races.

Barney Oldfield was one of a kind; a racer, Broadway designer, a movie cameo man, and one lucky guy who could flaunt a gold watch the size of a piston!