Rusty Truck Post No.2

I love old things. Things with a history, things with a patina, things which saw out other eras, which existed through times I can only read about. Like old cars and trucks.I can't tell you anything much about this car, I don't know the make, or the year, I'd guess 1920s. It's currently being rebuilt in hot-rod form. Hot-rods are a fun kind of activity, and a great outlet for mechanical creativity, but they're not really my thing. I appreciate the work, but I think I'd prefer it less brash and caricatured.

This one reminds me of the sixties, the Munsters, the Monkees, Beach-Boys, a whole era of cruising music, drag strips, greased lightning....

Another one, awaiting the re-animator.

They're in a little place in Texas where the wind blows hot, the feed-store closed down thirty years ago, and the train don't stop no more.

Even the wind-pump's seen better days.

The Car I Wanted When I Was 14

Seen yesterday, a prime example of the minimalist look. Steel seats... The original spec, as delivered, I think, had only a driver's seat, the others were extras. No radio, no heater, no roof...
It's a Mini Moke.  It had its origins as an ultra-lightweight, air-portable, parachute-droppable vehicle for the army. All the running gear is direct from the mini. That was part of its downfall too. Alec Issigonis' original mini, released in 1959, had ten inch wheels. The moke, on ten inch wheels and mini suspension, just didn't have enough ground clearance to hack it in the army.
Mind you, four squaddies could lift it up and reposition it easy enough.

In 1964, Austin/Morris, based on the enthusiasm of onlookers, whilst the prototypes were in road-trials, decided to release it as a civilian model. It was popular as a kind of micro-jeep, and swinging London loved it.
More success was found in hotter climes though, and production moved to australia, where it got bigger wheels, more powerful engine, and 'roo bars.
You'll see them in the caribbean, as beach cars, hire cars, in Sri Lanka, apparently, but relatively few remain in England. This one's a recently finished rebuild.
The colour's not to my taste, otherwise, I can't help smiling when I see one.
Note the grab handles for passengers!

(Moke: archaic name for a donkey.)

Gourmet Dog Bakery?

I'll have a hot-dog, please, with onions and mustard.

Rusty Old Truck Post No1

I love old cars and trucks, just as I love old houses. This truck we found by the roadside in a quiet little bit of old Texas. Sam Houston's old house is about half a mile away, Texas' fight for independence started near here, on the banks of the Brazos river, About a mile to the east is the tiny town of Independence, Tx.

I explained to the Red Dirt Girl that the truck probably just needed air in the tyres, gas in the tank, juice in the battery, and a bit of coaxing.

I liked the house too, with another old truck hiding under greenery at the side. I bet that house was full of neat stuff!

Offer a few dollars, borrow a trailer.....

Maybe a weekend or two, and a couple of cans of paint from Home Depot.

See? Amazing what you can do in a weekend with a bit of elbow grease and fifty cups of tea.

Next one we do has to be red, she says. XXXX!

I like this twice too.

Attack-Donkey!

Fsh

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