Journal The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc.

Issue 246 Electronic Edition July-August 2010

Brinksmanship, page 10 Inside Date Reminders President’s Message 2 SAH News 3 September 30, 2010 SAH Banquet Reservations Due What Is It? 4 Patrick Bisson Letters 5 [email protected] Book Reviews 7 Fast Ladies: Female Racing Drivers 1888-1970 October 8, 2010 Porsche 356 SAH Banquet Weller Brothers of Memphis Hershey Country Club, Hershey, PA

www.autohistory.org July - August 2010 1 - Families rarely continue a deceased Journal President’s Message family member’s collecting passion; Estate Settlement and Auctions - Collectors often make few The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Issue 246 July-August 2010 arrangements, or none, for the Offi cers This July 9, the Stanley Museum, my disposition of their collection because Susan S. Davis President ‘alma mater’ if you will, had its 7th of their passion: they rarely face their J. Douglas Leighton Vice President Consignment Auction. There were more own mortality. And indeed, such Robert R. Ebert Secretary than 420 lots, including fi ve Stanleys, passion often adds years to their lives; Patrick D. Bisson Treasurer most of them in running condition. - Among collections of high market Board of Directors Rather than being an estate sale, value, “friends” as well as complete Through October 2010 individuals had consigned parts and cars. strangers often approach a widowed Paul N. Lashbrook Stanton A. Lyman While being a great fundraiser, these spouse with fair and/or unfair offers, Judith E. Endelman consignment auctions also circulate parts sometimes even before the funeral Through October 2011 in the hobby. This started as both service has taken place, an enormously John A. Marino John Heitmann David M. Woodhouse and fundraiser almost by accident back distressing experience. Darwyn H. Lumley, ex-offi cio in 1995. Through October 2012 Recently, I heard of an unusually Steve Wilson Leslie Kendall Devastated by her husband’s accidental good outcome. When a model Thomas S. Jakups death in a plane crash, the widow of a railroader learned he had terminal major Stanley collector had held onto her cancer, he set about pricing every SAH Annual Awards deceased husband’s collection for years. piece of his O-scale railroad layout. Benz Award, magazine article Bradley Award, research institution She defl ected inquiries about selling the He completed the project before he Brigham Award, magazine material for years. The fi nal straw came died, enabling his family to sell the Cugnot Award, English language book when her husband’s best friend offered collection with little problem. Note Cugnot Award, Non-English book to take care of everything for a modest the situation: Cancer forced this Friend of Automotive History share. collector to face his mortality. Ingersoll Award, non-print media Scharchburg Award, student paper Her situation exposed a sad reality of In cases where such planning does SAH Journal the car collecting world. The collector not happen and the value is high, the Allan G. Y. Meyer, Editor, Adv. Mgr. may know value in the market place, best solution is usually an appraiser, P.O. Box 1948 but that doesn’t transfer magically to the who can often save the estate money Vashon, WA 98070-1948 USA spouse, who may in fact have given up in the long run. Appraisers at larger 206-304-3872 [email protected] much to allow her husband’s continued auction houses are salaried, not [email protected] “investment” in his collection, whether in working on commission, so one can a new acquisition or an important repair expect objective advice from people Publications Committee Thomas S. Jakups, Chair or restoration. The spouse rarely has the not only passionate about the objects Christopher G. Foster same depth of knowledge regarding her but also knowledgeable about the D. David Duricy Donald J. Keefe husband’s passion or its actual value. market. Proper appraisals can protect Steve Wilson Allan Meyer This sets her up as a potential victim of the family from undervaluing or someone else’s passion. And it is always overvaluing the collection. SAH Journal (ISSN 1057–1973) is published six times a year by the a Passion for both the deceased and Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. remaining friends. This translates to most The use of a museum experienced collections. with consignment auctions as a Subscription is by membership regular fundraiser is a good way to in the Society. After running fi ve of these auctions dispose of a collection, putting all Membership dues are $40 per year. before changing jobs in 2006, I’ve the work onto the institution and Send dues, membership inquiries broken this down into several parts: connecting to the audience most and changes of address to - Spouses and families are at a interested in the specifi c objects. The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. disadvantage determining the value of Stanley Museum consignment auction 178 Crescent Road the car/railroad/ephemera collection of has become such a popular way of Fairport, NY 14450 USA their deceased spouse; refreshing a tired steam car parts ©2010 - Collectors themselves can overvalue, inventory that it is used by many of The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. or undervalue, their collection when the same players every time it occurs. Find the Society of Automotive Historians they are not active players in the on the web at www.autohistory.org. market, sometimes translating to poor If a car, railroad or literature collection preparation for their spouse’s or family’s is of exceptional size and value, there disposition of these collections; are small, large, local or international Copy Deadline for Journal 247 - Spouses or families sometimes place auction houses that will handle a September 1, 2010 values far higher than market; collection’s disposition. Choosing the 2 SAH Journal No. 246 Electronic Edition right one needs research and masterful, Friend of Automotive professional management, often SAH News entailing an impressive bidding process. History Winners Roll

Automotive history collections are of great intellectual value but usually little Here is the updated list for the Friend monetary value. Here the question of Automotive History Award. is more of fi nding a home that can make the collection accessible to the 1983 Henry Austin Clark, Jr. researching public rather than having 1984 Charles L. Betts, Jr. it go on the dump or into paper 1985 Richard and Grace Brigham recycling. Last year we lost Z. Taylor 1986 Beverly Rae Kimes Vinson, a guiding star of automotive 1987 Peter Helck history. He willed his impressive 1988 Keith Marvin collection of catalogs from 1891 to 2009 SAH Fundraising Appeal 1989 Ralph Dunwoodie to the Hagley Museum and Library in 1990 Michael Lamm Wilmington, Delaware. The Society received additional con- 1991 David L. Lewis tributions from the following donors 1992 John A. Conde As with everything Taylor did, this was since publication of the list in the 1993 Frederick D. Roe well thought through and arranged previous issue of the Journal. 1994 Walter A. MacIlvain well ahead of his departure. As with 1995 Chester L. Krause the model railroader, this is an ideal. We wish to thank, 1996 L. Scott Bailey Perhaps by talking and writing about Bernard A. Siegal, Member #1439, 1997 Lord Montague of Beaulieu this, we can encourage collectors to Michael C. McGowan, Member #2559, 1998 Michael Worthington-Williams think about their own collections and Sandra Kasky Button, Member #2626 1999 David Brownell plan for this fi nal transition. Far better for the Pebble Beach Concours Foun- 2000 Paul Berliet & Thomas E. Warth to preserve the value of a lifetime dation. 2001 John Martin Smith of collecting passion than to see it —Patrick Bisson 2002 Richard Langworth & simply slip into oblivion, along with its Karl Ludvigsen passionate collector. —Susan Davis 2003 Z.Taylor Vinson 2004 Maurice D. Hendry 2005 Leroy D. Cole or more than a century, 2006 Bobbie’dine Rodda F designers have created 2007 Malcolm Jeal vehicles able to travel both 2008 Thomas Brownell on land and in water or air, 2009 G. Marshall Naul for both civil and military —Darwyn Lumley applications. Sometimes converted from standard vehicles, sometimes beginning as clean-sheet designs, these machines have addressed the engineering and economic challenges of dual-mode travel with varying degrees of success. This book describes an array of these vehicles from the United States and abroad. 240pp. $45 softcover (7 × 10) 160 photos, glossary, bibliography, index ISBN 978-0-7864-4556-1 2010 McFarland Box 6¡¡, Jefferson NC 28640 • Orders 800-253-2¡87 • FAX 336-246-4403 • www.mcfarlandpub.com July - August 2010 3 What Is It?

Tatra T600 with coachwork by Sodomka. The car was built for Communist Party rulers. More information on this car and the Sodomka fi rm will appear in the next issue of the Journal. The car featured the expected air-cooled engine cantile- vered behind the rear axle. Images from editor’s collection.

ight years in the making, The Greatest Auto Race Eon Earth is now available on DVD, telling the story of the 1908 New York to Paris auto race.

Through never before seen photos and exact running replicas of the Thomas Flyer, German Protos, and Zust, the story of these brave men and their machines is told as they travelled 22,000 miles in 169 days.

With stunning cinematography and cutting edge computer graphics, we look at the hardships and accomplishments of such heroes as George Schuster, Lt. Hans Koeppen, and the popular Italian, Antonio Scarfoglio. Mastered to HD, this 95 minute program has already garnered numerous NEW YORK TO PARIS - 1908 awards.

Use PayPal and order online at www.thegreatestautorace.com or send your name and address with a cheque or Money Order for $35.44 ($29.99 + $5.45 S/H) to The 1908 Great Auto Race Film Company Ltd., #202, 10816A-82 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta. Canada. T6E 2B3

4 SAH Journal No. 246 Electronic Edition Letters

The Tractor Trucks of China

Allan Meyer’s article on three- wheel cargo vehicles, When Three is Enough, in Issue 245 refreshes our memories of the innovative inexpensive commercial vehicles of the postwar period as well as others that are not so familiar. The automotive world would have been a smaller place without these curious noisy machines, many based on motorcycle or motor scooter technology. Fortunately there is one region where economic conditions and primitive roads have created the need for durable transport to serve rural districts in developing countries.

China’s tractor trucks were introduced many years ago as a hauling system of low cost, go-anywhere capability and easy maintenance. Powered by large-displacement single cylinder motors, front wheel mounted, they originally made do without weather protection or self starters, using manual starting in some cases by rope to spin the fl ywheel like a primitive outboard motor.

As time elapsed, enclosed bodies and fl at-twin motors were adopted but the semi-muffl ed machines still emit a loud tractor-like chug, not the angry snarl of a Vespa Ape in the Sicilian countryside, and their speeds rarely exceed that of a trotting horse.

Visual evidence implies these sturdy tractor trucks last almost forever and they are still in production. The photographs were taken in southern Yunnan province. Can any of our members tell us more about these fascinating dinosaurs? —Arthur Jones July - August 2010 5 Letters owned stock, preferred that Hudson More on Three-Wheelers lose money. In fact, Hudson made I enjoyed the piece on three-wheelers profi ts during most of Barit’s tenure, in the SAH Journal #245, and would other than during some of the like to add three pieces of information. Depression years. I make a very clear case in the book for my conclusion Cugnot. You say it was intended to be that Hudson’s war production efforts a materiel carrier; there was space for Book Review Comments were mismanaged by Barit. a load, but I always understood that its main purpose was as a tractor to pull Regarding the review of my The reviewer takes me to task for heavy artillery. It was demonstrated to new book, Storied Independent not mentioning that Hudson lost the French Army with this in mind. Automakers in the recent issue of experienced, skilled workers during the SAH Journal. Since the book the war, but that of course was true Reliant 10cwt van. The 747cc 4- appeared, there have been at least for all the auto companies. Hudson cylinder engine was an Austin Seven a half-dozen reviews in various had major contracts canceled by unit, initially supplied by Austin, magazines and journals and all have the military, a clear indication of its but from 1939 built under license uniformly praised the book. failure to deliver. by Reliant. These were made up to -Charles K. Hyde 1955, when they were replaced by The book covers Nash, Hudson, and a new design with engine under a AMC, but the reviewer spends one conventional hood. In 1963 a new paragraph on Nash and says nothing 600cc overhead valve diecast alloy about AMC. He then describes the engine was adopted. book as my “mea culpa” book. I wrote two other (well-received) Electric milk fl oat in Knightsbridge. books before writing this book, This is a Wales & Edwards, a well- but I have never stated or felt any known British maker of three- guilt about this. Because I reduced wheelers, as well as a few fours. the manuscript before publication, Starting in 1945 the vehicles were the reviewer claims the book is made into the 21st century, but I think a “choppy read.” He then says, they are no longer in business. Just “Ostensibly, it is a business history after World War Two Britain had about interwoven with biographies...” a dozen makers of electric vehicles, That is exactly what the book but nearly all have gone. is. Later in the text, the reviewer criticizes the book for too-short There is much less demand for coverage of the Thomas-Detroit and domestic milk delivery as people buy Chalmers-Detroit companies, but it cheaper from the supermarkets. then concedes that the coverage is I imagine it is the same in the US. “accurate.” Having said that, we do have our milk delivered to our house here in The reviewer also criticizes me for Guernsey, but it is by a small Daihatsu not discussing A.E. Barit’s source of gasoline-powered van. power within Hudson and suggests —Nick Georgano that the Webber family, which

6 SAH Journal No. 246 Electronic Edition double mastectomy so that she would Book Reviews not be obstructed by her breasts when driving super-fast cars. Morris, often Fast Ladies – Female Racing seen wearing men’s clothing, was Drivers 1888-1970 known as the “hyena of the Gestapo” and she died in 1944 following a by Jean-François Bouzanquet commando raid on her ordered by the Hardcover, 11.75ins x 9.75ins, 175 Normandy Resistance. pages, 400 photos, bibliography and index. ISBN 978-1-84584-225-3. 2009. Hellé Nice, the “Bugatti Queen”, along Veloce Publishing Ltd, Dorchester, with Jill Scott and Victoria Worsley England, DT1 1TT. www.veloce.co.uk depict a much more feminine side to racing. Mildred Bruce (who took the The subject of female racing drivers name The Honourable Mrs. Victor has been covered in two previous Bruce), the beautiful, petite redhead books, Atalanta, which was compiled who never wore racing overalls, many years ago by the late Sammy choosing instead to be attired in Davis, the other, Fast Women, by at handling motor cars as were their a jacket, pleated skirt and a pearl John Bullock in 2002. The question male counterparts. They are shown necklace, drove an AC to victory in the is whether there is room for another to be driving some pretty enormous 1927 Monte Carlo Rally. She drove a book on the subject. machines, infl ating tires and competing massive Blower Bentley, and grabbing at the newly opened Brooklands a bottle fi lled with petrol and gulping Just a glance at this tome is enough track. Illustrated is Bertha Benz, who it, mistaking it for Vichy water, she to know that this is a solid work in 1888 drove 180km from Mannheim might have got more than 89.4 mph of research both in textual and to Pforzheim while her husband slept from the car. Bruce was as adroit at the photographic content. That it is so in his bed to become the fi rst woman controls of an airplane as she was at is because the author comes from to drive a motor vehicle solo. Easing the wheel of a car and was looping the a dedicated motoring family, and us into the formative years of the 20th loop at the age of 80 some fourteen his own experience racing historic Century we are teased with stories and years before her peaceful death. racing cars as well as being a serious snapshots of women test drivers at the collector of motoring ephemera has Unic factory and at Montlhéry in the Elisabeth Junek, Gwenda Stewart- given him the resources to produce early days of the circuit. Hawkes, Renée Friedrich, Amy this welcome volume. This is a book Johnson, Fay Taylour, Kay Petre, Elsie that will appeal, not only because of Taking us into the 1920s the writer ‘Bill’ Wisdom, Pat Moss, Rosemary the plethora of remarkable pictures, gives us more than a glimpse of Smith and Sheila Van Damm all have but because the author brings much, the lifestyle and career of a new their place within Bouzanquet’s pages. and new, information in which he generation of female motorists who Roberta Cowell, who, as Bob Cowell, relives the age when a certain type of had served as taxi, ambulance and was the fi rst English transsexual to woman defi ed living at home being lorry drivers during WW1. A number undergo a sex change operation and subservient to husband and family. of them were determined to enter be allowed legally to change his sex, It is all the more glorious for it being motor sport, including Violette is there too. There are many more politically incorrect. Morris whose exploits as a driver names, including those of Colette serving on the Somme during the Trautmann, Catherine Piot, Colette In scholarly style, Jean-François confl ict are legendary. Known to Perrier and Lucette Pointet. Bouzanquet begins his saga in the smoke 60 cigarettes a day, and with closing years of the 19th Century a physique of a weightlifter, Morris hit What is good from the historian’s point when women proved just as adept the headlines when she underwent a of view is that the author sectionalizes his research into decade. He provides in-depth profi les and covers the successes of the lady racers in question. In this way he keeps in tune with technology, fashion and lifestyle. Within the sections devoted to each decade the author cleverly provides cameos dedicated to differing aspects of motor racing, and some lesser known female drivers. He makes some interesting contrasts too, an example

July - August 2010 7 Book Reviews therefore is a most appreciated aid when restoring such a car. The early tests and prototypes are of special being a bold photograph of the interest. The book contains exact data already mentioned and extraordinarily and key fi gures of the step-by-step masculine Violette Morris, and on development of the range, and the the facing page the romantic image racing entries of the small sports car and utterly feminine charms of an on road and track. unknown beauty ensconced on the front wing of her three-liter Alfa- Many of the fabulous photographs Romeo RL Super Sport recorded at the were made by Julius Weitmann, the Bois de Boulogne. man who was the father of modern car and racing photography in The 1930s and the famous Yacco Europe. endurance trials are covered in detail, including the fabulous Paris-Saint For any Porsche enthusiast who does Raphael Féminin rallies where the not yet have the original edition high society of Paris and London on his shelf, this is an opportunity would do battle on French roads in the Porsche 356 to fi ll the gap. Many hours of depths of February. Wonderful scenes interesting and surprising reading are of extravaganza – as well as hard by Dirk-Michael Conradt. guaranteed. driving - are portrayed as participants Text in German. Illustrated with 320 rally and party in this and the equally B&W and color photographs, 263 Printed on glossy paper and nicely exotic Monte. pages, softbound, 9 x 10.5 inches. presented Porsche 356 is a steal ISBN 978-3-613-02938-5. Published by at less than 30 dollars. Highly From the ’30s, Bouzanquet sails into Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart. Special recommended. —Ferdinand Hediger the 1950s and an era with which many edition 2008. Price approx. $26 plus readers will be more familiar. This is shipping. the age of the Lyon-Charbonnières, SAH members are invited to join the Rallye International du Maroc, the This is a new edition of the original the Classic Car Club of America Soleil Cannes, Liège-Rome-Liège and book published in 1989. There was (CCCA) the Rallye des Alpes, the latter made also an English version in 1993: founded in 1952 to promote the famous by Pat Appleyard and her Porsche 356 – Driving in its purest preservation and restoration of Jaguar XK120. The swinging sixties form) long out of print. distinctive motorcars built between were no less exciting with such cars 1925 and 1948. as the big Healeys, Simcas, Renault The author Dirk-Michael Conradt is The club publishes its Bulletin eight and Renault Alpines, the technically a most renowned automotive editor times a year and the quarterly Classic advanced and futuristic looking and competent expert of the Porsche Car magazine. Citroën DS and ID19s and, of course, marque. Right away in the fi rst The club maintains a museum and the Mini. chapter it is clear that he was and is research library on the grounds of devoted with heart and soul to the the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory The huge collection of illustrations 356. Corners, Michigan. depict a fabulous wealth of cars, from For membership details contact the club Alfas to Talbots, Bugattis to Rosengarts, The special edition was published and in between Fiats, Austins, Lancias, to celebrate the 80th birthday of Dr. MGs, Peugeots, Hotchkiss and Napiers h.c. Ferry Porsche, the son of the among others. To end the book there company founder Ferdinand Porsche. is a comprehensive alphabetical list The book contains a very thoroughly of female racing drivers from 1900 researched and comprehensive to the 1970s and a record of their history of the development of the at either of the addresses below. achievements. 356 with all its types, specials and 1645 Des Plaines River Road, Suite 7 experimental models, racing and Des Plaines, IL 60018-2206 This is a superb work which, as well sports versions. as being entertaining, is a major source (847) 390-0443 www.ClassicCarClub.org of reference which should be indulged The precise chronological display and not be missed. —Malcolm Bobbitt contains information of all kinds and

8 SAH Journal No. 246 Electronic Edition Weller Brothers of Memphis Some vehicles carried one discreet By Walter M. P. McCall, with Roger D. roof-mounted warning light, while at White, MD. 128 pages, softbound, 132 least two conversions carried no less B&W images, 10.25’’ x 8.5’’ than thirteen lights spread over the ISBN: 158388257X / 9781583882573 entire vehicle. These well-illuminated Published by: Iconografi x, Hudson, WI. vehicles must have made quite an 2010, $34.95 appearance after dark or in dense fog. Another sign of the times was This book is part of the Iconografi x script reading “Air Conditioned” on “Photo Archive” series, and as such the outside of several ambulances. covers a highly specialized area of automotive history. The benefi t of George and Harold Weller began Weller Brothers completed their last this series of books is to preserve business in 1922 repairing and ambulance conversions on 1969 and disseminate collections of factory repainting car bodies. Eventually by model Pontiac and standard product documentation. Of 129 factory- 1936 Weller Brothers branched out wheelbase station wagons. These produced images in the book, nearly to conversion work transforming vehicles had the expected raised all are reproduced close to full size. cars into ambulances and hearses. At roof, apparently executed in molded This is highly informative for anyone one time Memphis, Tennessee, was fi berglass. The Wellers had continued requiring detailed views for restoration home to fi ve other coachbuilding their collision repair business of a professional car, for example. enterprises in addition to Weller alongside conversion work for the Brothers. preceding 33 years. The author General readers may wonder if it Walter M.P. McCall enlisted Thomas is worth paying $34.95 for pictures The Wellers converted at least A. McPherson to track down the of ambulances and funeral cars. a dozen brands of vehicles into original owners of several vehicles Consider that the cover price of professional cars including Buick, shown in the book. An epilog shows $34.95 averages out to approximately Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Ford, three snapshots of a few surviving $0.25 per image which is perhaps Mercury, Lincoln, Packard, Chrysler, examples of Weller-built vehicles. less than a stack of old 8x10 glossies Dodge, DeSoto and Plymouth. Some at a swap meet. Furthermore, each conversions comprised merely a high This type of book demonstrates its image has a paragraph of descriptive roof, special rear loading door and value when restoring commercial text, information which is not always interior refi t on a standard wheelbase. vehicles. Professional cars and transit present on the reverse side of as- The most involved conversions vehicles are subject to equipment found photos. The photos come from featured a wheelbase stretch and retrofi ts and change of livery during the collection of Dr. Roger P. White, original design and fabrication work their service lives. It is helpful a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist who on the entire top and rear section of to verify original equipment and discovered them in the former Weller the vehicle including the fenders. trim to explain random holes in Brothers facility in Memphis in the the bodywork or dangling wires. early 1980s. Among the ambulances and hearses Obviously color schemes are lost are the novel “combination” models for the purposes of this black-and- which would function as both, white archive, but paint patterns and presumably not on the same trip. lettering can be verifi ed. A few conversions were advertised as four-function units, comprising There are a few unavoidable fl aws Emergency Ambulance, Child Hearse, with the images, some were clearly As you might expect from a club publication, the Flower Car, and Utility Unit. The photographer’s errors such as out-of- Horseless Carriage Gazette is chock full of exciting Wellers also offered what they termed focus or framing issues. Other factors four-color photographs showing brass-era automobiles in action. First-generation cars don’t get out often but, “IFITS.” “If it’s an ambulance... fi rst- are the photo prints themselves, they when they do, it is a real privilege to be along for the call car... fl ower car... second hearse may show marks or evidence of age. ride. or personal car you need,... you have These are few and far between, the History buffs will enjoy a feature or two in each Horseless Carriage Gazette about marques both it in the IFITS. Send us your car —any majority of images are as crisp and popular and obscure. In addition, more than 240 black kind— we’ll convert it.” This would detailed as can be expected using & white images from the pre-1916 era were used as illustrations in the six 2007 issues. also explain the wide variety of car the half-tone printing process on Membership is $45 ($55 outside of the USA). brands which served as base vehicles. paper. The best aspect of the book is There is no better place to connect with nearly 5,000 that it documents the very existence enthusiasts who appreciate pioneer vehicles than in the Professional car body accessories of Weller Brothers, a fi rm which Horseless Carriage Club. We’ll be honored if you decide to join. such as lights and sirens are noted might otherwise have been forgotten Horseless Carriage Club Horseless5709 CarriageOak Ave Club and named by make and model. outside the Memphis area. —A. Meyer PO BoxTemple 62, BakersfieldCity, CA 91780-2431 CA 93302 888/832-2374(888) 832-2374 or [email protected] www.hcca.org July - August 2010 9 Editorial

Brinksmanship

In this column on December 31, 2009, I prognosticated the demise of SAAB. We all know that history is under no obligation to meet our expectations.

February 24, 2010 Mike Colleran, the President and CEO of SAAB Cars North America sent a letter to 1940 Mercury customers announcing that SAAB Automobile AB had in fact been The repercussions of the so-called Great there are no current stand-alone purchased by Spyker N.V. SAAB press Recession have not played out fully. Mercury dealers. In short, Ford is releases stated that SAAB had left By early August, 2010, the last orders discontinuing Mercury because it is liquidation and that their management for new Mercury-branded vehicles will slowly fading away in any case. were back in control. Transfer of be accepted. Mercury vehicle sales ownership had taken place, with both are meant to continue from inventory I do recall the trajectory of the SAAB and Spyker to operate under until stock runs out, presumably at series of cars. They a parent company called Spyker the end of 2010. Service, parts and started out as a German Ford captive Cars N.V. Trollhättan. Spyker Cars warrantee work are to be handled import which managed to survive CEO Victor Muller expressed his through Ford and Lincoln dealers. the federalization process in the confi dence that SAAB’s future was Ford has mentioned that although early 1970s including unattractive secure, and that every effort would Mercury was originally created to be a battering-ram bumpers. The Capri II be put into transforming SAAB into a “premium” version of comparable Ford looked very much like the fi rst, but sustainable, bold company again. models, buyers have been migrating featured a hatchback. A 2.6 liter V-6 from Mercury to Ford in the last several engine was offered from late 1972, in Personally, I hope to see fewer years. contrast to the 2.4 liter SOHC inline- blatant examples of chimeric SAAB- six in the Datsun 240 Z which in any branded products in the future. The Ford stated that the majority of Mercury case was a two-seat or small SAAB 9-2x was the handsomest sales are to fl eet buyers, and through 2+2 while the Capri always had four version of the Subaru Impreza, to employee, retiree and “friends and seats. By 1974 the shrunken Pinto- be fair. The 9-7x was pointless and family” discounts. Ford has a 16 percent based Ford Mustang II had been apparently consumers agreed. SAAB share of the U.S. domestic market introduced which sold almost 386,000 has displayed several interesting while the Mercury brand accounts for cars in the fi rst year in the Capri’s concept cars in the last few years, but 0.8 percent, which has been declining market segment. Towards the end of these models rarely see production. in the past several years. Apparently, the German import Capri model run,

Above: 1958 with retractable rear glass. Below: 1956 Sun Valley show- Above and below: SAAB 9-X Air Biopower concept, ing the tinted Plexiglass roof panel, from the Freewheelers Westcoast Meet, San Luis Obispo, CA. one of two versions. Seen at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. All images from editor’s collection.

10 SAH Journal No. 246 Electronic Edition Mercury claimed to have sold nearly 500,000 units in North America.

In 1979, the Capri model range turned into a Mercury verison of the handsome Fox-platform Ford Mustang. In a game of automotive musical chairs, the previous Mercury iteration of the Mustang, the Cougar, had already moved upmarket to become a version of the Ford Thunderbird. At the auto show it was clear that the Capri had an appealing, aggressive appearance compared to the slightly fl eet-car look of the base model Mustangs. The new Capri range had a choice of engines from four-cylinder, V-6 to V-8. Once again the Capri featured a hatchback, and removable , which made Above: 1973 Mercury Capri from Ford-Köln in Germany. evolved into several special editions the car into a quirky, wedge-shaped including the Black-and-Gold “Black sporty car. Magic” version. Several other color variations were available. After 1986 Clearly, there is more to the history the Capri name was discontinued. of the Mercury brand which has offered many interesting models By 1991, the Capri nameplate throughout its run. The on-again, returned to North America on the off-again Capri and the gyrations of Australian-built Ford Capri from 1989. the Cougar model line are examples The Capri was now a front-drive four- of how badge engineering can be cylinder Mazda-powered convertible. taken too far for too long. Yet, the Above: 1980 Mercury Capri on US-built Fox platform. At the time it seemed that a Mercury Mercury Grand Marquis on the version of the Ford Probe would have Panther platform has been a stalwart made a more suitable Capri, but the of limousine fl eets and municipalities. Mazda-based AutoAlliance platform was not available as a convertible. Mercury seemed to be staking a Several friends and I wondered who small claim to hybrid and alternative Ford thought they were fooling powerplants with the Mariner Hybrid with the new Capri. Neverthless, and potentially other models. It is a Above: 1991 Mercury Capri from Ford Australia. one friend was considering buying shame to see the division fade away. Below: 1963 Monterey with retractable “breezeway” rear the new Capri with the available —A. Meyer window. Bottom: 1987 Cougar.

Above: 1986 . The front panel between the headlights was illuminated. Below: 2009 Grand Marquis, this style body dates to 1992, Panther platform to 1979.

July - August 2010 11 First Class Presort JournalThe Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. U.S. Postage Issue 246 July-August 2010 PAID The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Permit #1 P.O. Box 1948 Whittier, CA Vashon, WA 98070-1948

Brinksmanship. See page 10.

Mercury Bobcat, above. This version of the featured a formal grille and larger rear refl ectors disguised as taillights. Note the professional models in the picture, one bears an “uncanny” resemblance to actor Tom Selleck.

12 SAH Journal No. 246 Electronic Edition