"Cad-Allard"

art by   Dick Giordano 

from   Hot Rods and Racing Cars #10 (June 1953)

great cover by  Lou Morales

Dodge Matador

Dodge produced this model for only one year, 1960.

The Matador was one of two new models produced by Dodge in 1960 when it dropped its long-running Coronet and Custom models.. The Matador was designated Dodge's full-size base trim vehicle, with the Dodge Polara becoming the make's full-sized premium model. All Matadors were V8-powered.

These cars continued the style introduced by Virgil Exner for the 1957 Mopars.

 The majority of cars built by Dodge and sold during the 1960 model year were in Dodge's new "smaller" and less expensive full-sized model, the Dodge Dart. 27,908 Matadors were built.

Specifications

Engines: all ohv V-8; 361 cid (4.12 x 3.38), 295 bhp (1960), 265/305 bhp (1961); 383 cid (4.25 x 3.38), 325/330 bhp

Transmissions: 3-speed manual; 2-speed PowerFlite automatic, 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic

Suspension front: upper and lower A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, anti-roll bar

Suspension rear: live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs

Brakes: front/rear drums

Wheelbase (in.): 122.0

Weight (lbs): 3,705-4,220

Rochester's Rod

Eddie Anderson made a career on radio and television playing Rochester Van Jones, valet , handyman and comedic foil to Jack Benny for almost 30 years.
  Some in our modern age are quick to disparage him for playing such a demeaning role (despite the fact that if anyone bothered to listen, they'd see that he was the one upstaging Benny). He wasn't a dumb buffoon though, and had many interest outside of acting.

  Not many people know that he designed and built this car, for instance.
 In 1951 Anderson combined a Cadillac engine under the hood and a sleek, low-slung exterior to create a car that he both drove and exhibited at various sports car shows throughout the country.

clipping from  Jet Magazine, February 7, 1952

Moon Motors

1920 ad

   Moon Motor Car (1905 - 1930) was a United States automobile company that was based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company had a venerable reputation among the buying public, as it was known for fully assembled, easily affordable mid-level cars using high-quality parts. Often this meant the manufacturing process required more human intervention, leading to operating losses.

   The company was founded by carriage maker Joseph W. Moon. Moon produced both cars and trucks  and their  peak production year was 1925 when the company produced 10,271 vehicles.

   In addition to the Moon name, they were sold under the Hol-Tan name in 1908. Moon produced the Diana via its subsidiary the Diana Motors Company in 1925 - 1928. Another subsidiary produced the Windsor in 1929-1930.

This is a beautiful image..click to see it in full size

   The firm also produced a Cotton picker .
   Beginning in 1924, Moon was increasingly unable to meet dealership orders. The company went out of business at the start of the Great Depression; the Moon factory was purchased by Ruxton automobile.
Moon automobiles are on display at the Missouri History Museum and Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. The amusement park Six Flags St. Louis also features a ride using the Moon automobile body.

 

Pontiac Club de Mer

 The Pontiac Club de Mer was a purpose-built, concept  car that was unveiled at the General Motors Motorama in 1956 to celebrate GM's commitment to futuristic design. It was destroyed by GM in 1958.

Under the hood lay Pontiac’s brand new V-8 engine, the 287 OHV, which was unveiled the year prior. Called the Strato Streak, it was GM's most powerful engine by 1955 and ushered in Pontiac’s high-performance image with the Bonneville, Grand Prix and GTO. This high-output power plant was modified with a high-lift cam and fitted with two four-barrel carburetors to coax power up to 300 bhp  . The rear wheels were driven by a rear mounted transaxle, used later in Pontiac's new compact, the 1961 Tempest, on a rigid rear axle with independent suspension.

it had a very low profile at just under 39 in

Wheelbase:103.251 in  
Length:180.001 in  
Height:38.401 in  

Get good enough at FACEBOOK'S "Car Town" and you might drive one of these cartoon versions.

NXI

1953 Nash

1950 Nash experimental NXI.” The Nash Experimental International, basis for the Nash Metropolitan, piloted by Nash-Kelvinator Chairman George Mason with VP George Romney (Mitt’s dad) riding shotgun.
The design was by William J. Flajole.
I always wondered why Nash thought the ability to turn the front wheels was something drivers didn't want.

Skyview

The Skyviews were specially created for the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado.

This custom-built Cadillac had an incredible 156-inch wheelbase and featured a large plexi-glass observation panel in the roof.

The Broadmoor Skyview was built by Superior Coach of Lima, Ohio on a Cadillac commercial chassis. Production of six 1959 Skyviews have been verified. All were delivered to the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they replaced a fleet of 1955 and 1956 S&S Cadillac observation coaches as VIP transportation.

To amortize development costs, the Skyview shared a body shell and chassis with higher-volume Superior ambulance and Royale hearse models. Dimensions were generous; a 156-inch wheelbase and a 251-inch overall length provided stretch-out comfort and a limousine-style ride. With all the eye-catching beauty of the 1959 Cadillac, plus wide-opening doors and plenty of interior room height, the Skyview offered executive transportation for eight Broadmoor guests plus luggage. Plexiglas observation roof panels provided for an extraordinary view. Leather seating was standard, along with power steering, power brakes, a 390 cubic-inch V8 engine and gold-plated 'Broadmoor' emblems on those iconic 1959 fins.

Thanks to my buddy Bill H. for suggesting this unique motor car.

Toyota EX-III

The Toyota EX-III concept car was shown at the 1969 Tokyo Motor Show. 

While most Japanese firms turned to European design houses for their innovative designs, Toyota struck its own course. The 1969 EX III was a case in point. Here was a sleek coupe, which advanced the dream-car ideal as much as the Europeans. Its sleek shape

carried over to its ultra-smooth underbody, making it very aerodynamic.

Ford Cougar II

In 1963, Ford produced this interesting concept car.

1/25 model kit

Ford claimed a top speed of 168 MPH with the 4.8 liter V8 equipped car. Dayton wire wheels were fitted to the 90" wheelbased car. It had a  4 speed manual transmission and was built on the frame of an AC Cobra. It seems to me to be very reminiscent  of a Corvette.

The car was shown at the 1964 New York Fair, but of course was upstaged by the debut of the production Mustang at that venue.

The styling didn't show up in the Mercury Cougar, which was brought ot market in late '67. But if you squint, you sure can see some of the future Pantera in there.

Moskvitch 410

   The Moskvitch 410 is a four wheel drive  car which was made by Soviet manufacturer Moskvitch from 1957 to 1961. Only 9095 were produced. It was powered by a 35 hp four cylinder engine, upgraded to 45 hp in 1958. Transmission was a 3 speed (4 speed after 1959), with a 2 speed reverse.

  Standard equipment included radio and folding seats.

 Ground clearance was 8.7 inches, and it could drive through water up to a foot deep.

Plymouth XNR

Virgil Exner (1909-1973) was an automotive designer who produced some of the best looking cars of the 50s and 60s. He started his career with the Raymond Lowey Studio in 1938. After designing the Studebaker Starlight in the early '50s, he joined Chrysler and designed some of these memorable autos; Chrysler 300 ,Chrysler New Yorker, Plymouth Fury, Plymouth Valiant and Dodge Coronet.

Here is one of Exner's concept cars. It might have a touch of Lowey in it, even after he'd been gone 2 decades. It certainly bears a little resemblance to Lowey's  Avanti of the same era.

Exner chose to power the XNR with a 170-cu.inch* slant-six engine with a Hyper-pak intake manifold, four-barrel carburetor, ported cylinder head, high-performance camshaft, and split exhaust. To get a short, sporting wheelbase, he chose to base the XNR on Plymouth’s new Valiant chassis, upon which the Italian firm Ghia then draped a body made entirely of steel.

*Some sources say it had a 225 slant six, but I don't think that engine was being produced at that time.

It certainly would have been an interesting car, and with Ford leaving the sports car market by turning the Thunderbird into a luxury car, it would have given the Corvette a run. It was tested at 146 mph. With a fiber glass nose cone ala the Superbird of a decade later, it was clocked at 152. Not bad for something built of stock parts.

There was only the one example made. Tax laws demanded that it be shipped back to Italy after it's use as a show car, and it ended up being owned by the Shah of Iran, who sold it to a Beirut businessman before fleeing the county in 1979. It managed to survive war torn Beirut of the 80s and is now seen at car shows around the world.