.All Trips / Alberta / Car Culture / Central Canada / North America

“Pic of the Week”, April 21, 2023: Vintage Fire Trucks, Alberta

00 Fire Trucks, Bomber Command Museum

The Bomber Command Museum of Canada, housed in the small Alberta town of Nanton, includes in its varied collection two old fire trucks.  Both of these served on air force bases in Alberta in WW II, intended to protect the bases in case of emergencies.  Both are in excellent condition.
The larger is a 1942 Ford and the smaller is a 1943 Ford.  Rather lovely, aren’t they?
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge photos)

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.All Trips / Alberta / Car Culture / Central Canada / North America

Great Cars Along the Highway: 1964 Austin Healey 3000

00 1964 Austin Healey 3000

The Austin-Healey 3000 was a popular British sports car built from 1959 to 1967. The 3000s were often used as racing cars. Most were exported, the majority to North America.
This beautiful car was spotted in Calgary.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)


 

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.All Trips / Alberta / Car Culture / Central Canada / North America

Great Cars along the Highway: 1930 Ford Model A

05 1930 Ford Model A

Ford released the Model A following a successful 18 year production run of its Model T, which was becoming a little technologically outdated. The Model A was released in late 1927. It was well received and in less than two years, Ford had sold two million Model A’s.
Over the years of Model A production, Ford released a number of different color and body style options, with the sales price ranging from around $400 up to $1400 depending on how the car was configured. Besides in the USA, the Model A was also made in almost a dozen foreign plants ranging from Argentina to Japan to Germany. So it enjoyed global success.
Model A production ended in 1932, after nearly 5 million …

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.All Trips / Car Culture / Nevada / North America / Southwestern USA

Hood Ornaments and Emblems: National Automobile Museum

00 National Automobile Museum, Reno

There’s something about the artistry of old cars I find appealing.   Besides their interesting designs and contours, a detail I’d never thought much about became apparent to me when we visited the terrific National Automobile Museum in Reno.  I became intrigued by the details of the older car’s hood ornaments and emblems.  This was especially true of cars made more than a century ago.


I thought it might be interesting to look at some of these older cars from the perspective of first studying their emblems and/or ornaments, then looking at the whole car.  These are arranged chronologically by year of release …

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.All Trips / Car Culture / Nevada / North America / Southwestern USA

The National Automobile Museum, Reno

00 National Automobile Museum, Reno

The National Automobile Museum is considered one of the 10 best car museums in the USA and features an amazing collection of vehicles from the late 19th century and 20th century. The museum displays over 200 cars, and lots of associated memorabilia.
Most of the vehicles displayed in the museum are from the private collection of magnate William F. Harrah, founder of Harrah’s Hotels and Casinos, so the museum is sometimes referred to as “The Harrah Collection”.  The museum opened in 1989.

One of the first cars you see on entering the museum, a 1994 Beatnik Bandit II, built by Eddie Roth

One of the first cars you see on entering the museum, a 1994 Beatnik Bandit II, built by Eddie Roth


Mr. Harrah collected approximately 1,450 automobiles during his lifetime — a staggering number when you think about it —  which he stored in warehouses around Reno.  His was the world’s largest collection of historic automobiles which were open to the …

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Great Cars along the Highway: 1935 Ford Pickup

191-Show and Shine Car Show (215)

Came across this lovely souped-up Ford Pickup in Calgary — and in one of my favorite colors.
Hard to believe it’s almost 85 years old.  Powered by a 302cc V8, it was popular when it was made and still a very desirable collectible.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)


 

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Great Cars Along the Highway: 1960 Chevrolet Corvette, Calgary

1960 Chevrolet Corvette (1)

I think Chevy Corvettes — especially those made in the 1950s and early 1960s — are among the most attractive cars ever made in America.  
The Corvette was first built in 1953 — this model was made in 1960, one of just over 10,000 made that year.  The car has a front placed engine (generally a 283 cu in (4.64 L) V8), rear wheel drive, and is a two-door, two passenger vehicle. 
The Corvette was one of the first cars to use fiberglass for the outer body, a tradition that continues to this day.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)

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.All Trips / Car Culture / Central USA / Missouri / North America

Celebrity Car Museum, Branson, Missouri

00 Celebrity Car Museum, Branson (150)

Branson is known for its many family-themed attractions, a few of which feature cars.  I’m fond of seeing interesting cars and trucks and thought a visit to the Celebrity Car Museum might be fun. 
“Celebrity Car Museum and Attraction: The Velvet Collection” features over 100 vehicles that have ties to the movie and television industry.  Most of these are cars and many are easily recognized, but there were also some rare vehicles displayed so it wasn’t all about star power.  Besides the vehicles, you’ll see film-related memorabilia.  Video monitors throughout the museum run short film loops clips focusing on scenes in which the displayed cars are featured on film. 
Once you pay your admission, you can walk around at your leisure and …

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