White brick in Red Hook

WHITE BRICK IN RED HOOK

I was making my way past Sunny's Bar out in Red Hook when this slab of cream cheese presented itself:

This is a 1972-1974 Ford E-200 Super Van in Wimbledon White. This thing rules! the hood is so tiny because most of the engine is accessed from the inside. You can basically check the oil and top off the radiator only from the front.

Take a look at this plain-Jane face. This is the stripped down model with zero chrome or frills whatsoever. The entire grill would be chrome on the higher end vans as well as the bumpers. If you had a small business and needed basic transportation this was the ride for you.

Scrapes and scuffs are the hallmarks of a working vehicle. Having no window on the sliding side door means this is truly the base model.

I love these lunchbox rides. You know this thing doesn't live in a city because it would be tagged to high heaven. Parking it in front of a Red Hook bar for more than 20 minutes invites writers.
Super Van is written on that lower-right emblem. I believe it denotes a slightly more comfortable interior because there's nothing about the outside that says Super.

I've owned a few ford vans over the years from the 1988-1989 model years and from the rear they look the same as this one. In many ways the Ford trucks and vans were extensions of the Model T; basic and ready to work with great economy. 

This is basically a portable storage unit.

I love the plainness of this slab side. I wouldn't be able to leave well enough alone with so much canvas space but with the white bumpers and mirrors it looks pretty neat.

Econoline is just what it sounds like. The 200 designation denotes its hauling ability. There is a 100 (1/2 ton) and 300 (1 ton) as well as this 3/4 ton version.

This hardy beast has the 3 on the tree manual transmission mated to what is probably a straight 6 cylinder engine. There were 2 different sixes; a 240 and the 300. In addition a 302 V8 was available but when the van is this basic I figure it's a 6.

Just about the only styling on this entire rig is that eyebrow line that goes down the length of the side and under the taillights. 

Alright that's what I'm talking about! This box contains 2 bikes hidden within. You can conquer the country with this setup. *I dig how the construction of these is so basic that you can see where the windows would be in the sliding door had it been so equipped. 

Well that's where I'll leave this sweet beast. When I walked by a few hours after taking these pics I saw the couple that owns this ride sitting on folding chairs behind the open rear doors. They were barbecuing on a tiny camp sized charcoal grill looking like they might as well just head out across the country that moment. The Jersey plate seemed almost too close for people packing motorcycles and a grill but who am I to deny those who know how to live?
Hats off you flat faced brick! See you in the Hook.

Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1974

MOTOR TREND CAR OF THE YEAR FOR 1974

Some cars live strange lives. When we were getting ready to open our shop in Gowanus 5 years ago this was parked with a for sale sign in the window at a local gas station. I even had a friend who was considering buying it for $5,000 years ago (I told him it hadn't moved from the lot in years). The gas station where it lived is now gone and so here we find this little ride, 10 blocks to the north:

This is a 1974 Ford Mustang II in Bright Red. *This is a rare case of perfect timing with an all new design. Somehow the folks at Ford knew to start planning on a tiny version of their Mustang even as the trend was still bigger is better.

*All the more astonishing from the folks who brought you the Edsel!

From what I can tell these turn signals are the one clue that this is a 1974. That horizontal bar in the middle of the lens was a first year only detail for the II.

The sky was falling in 1974 for the domestic automobile market. From October '73 through March of '74 the gas crisis caught the public by surprise. In a land where plentiful cheap gas was taken for granted the cars were enormous and thirsty. In a cruel bit of timing this same year ushered in new efficiency and safety regulations that had automakers scrambling to make their dinosaurs compliant. Here comes the Mustang II in drastically scaled down fashion with a design that accommodated the larger bumpers nicely. It was an instant hit.

There isn't a single bolt on this car that was carried over from the previous generation. In fact the Mustang II shared a platform with the compact Pinto.

The wheels on this ride are from an '80s Mustang 5.0 a la Vanilla Ice. They look a bit oversized for my taste but whatever. Styling cues harken back to the original 1964.5 Mustang such as that simulated scoop on the door. This thing is very tidy overall.

They also produced a fastback/hatchback version of this car which looks plenty cool, but I like this notchback model. My babysitter had one of these when I was a wee sprite in the '70s. I can still clearly remember sitting in the backseat admiring the steering wheel with its circular openings on the spokes.

After all this time these have aged really well. The big taillight clusters look cool with their angled edges conforming to the body shape. Even the huge mid-'70s bumpers look justified with their red cladding.

Who needs plates? Park a car in Brooklyn with nothing on it and the cops will roll right on by for weeks or months (this has already been where I took these pics for at least a month).

As much as this looks like a hardtop there is a thin B pillar between the door and rear quarter glass. In addition the rear quarter is fixed in place and doesn't have a roll down mechanism. There was never a convertible either making this the only generation Mustang to lack one.

In this first year of production there was no V8 available giving it the dubious honor of being the only year Mustang without an 8 cylinder option in its entire 53 year (and counting) run. The base engine was a 140 Inline 4 cylinder. The sole upgrade was the German built Cologne V6.

I love white interiors and this one with the red dash and carpet is fantastic! This ride seems decently appointed as it has an am/fm Stereo (possibly with an 8 Track but I can't be sure from this view). Being an automatic means this ride is S L O W. Those 3 round gauges are all the basics with Fuel being on the left, ALT in the center, and the temp on the right. That little white nub on the door panel is the remote side mirror adjustment. If there was a/c there would be large vents hanging under the dash. This has the basic wheel but the sporty GT wheel was what I remember.

Where there we have it; the perfect mini placeholder for a marque while the 1970s sorted itself out. Lee Iacocca was responsible for the II and insisted that the overall fit and finish were of the highest order. He specified that the Mustang II ought to be "a little jewel" and as a result they're very stout little rides. 4 of the 5 years the II was produced are in the top 10 of all time for Mustang sales. There were stylish Ghia and sporty King Cobra editions too. If you like the looks of this beast just go get one as there are a ton of them out there!

Life on the farm circa 1956

BASIC DONKEY
I was riding through Red Hook a while ago when I stumbled upon this hardy beast. It was parked in a delicious cloud of barbecue smoke behind Hometown. I asked some folks who were unloading firewood for Hometown if I could snap some pics and got something like a muttered "go ahead":

This is a 1956-1957 International Harvester S-120 in Chesapeake Grey. The S-Series was introduced in '56 and only lasted for 2 years before being replaced by the A-Series. This is not to be confused with the IH S-Series that came out in 1978 and continued on for a decade. The newer S trucks were much larger and have nothing to do with the truck here. They simply elected to reuse a name.

I realize this pic is inscrutable with the glare but rest assured there isn't much to miss. The grill consists of a simple loop with turn signals for molars. The grill actually looks like a mini truck front end jammed in a larger opening of the same shape.

This iH logo is known as the Man on the Tractor. The lower case i is the farmer and his square head while the H makes up the large tires of a tractor that he's piloting. This is a decidedly Jet-Age version.

On the lower rear edge of the hood you can see that piece of chrome about 3 inches tall by 1 inch wide. That is a handle and there is another just like it on the other side. Uniquely, the IH S-Series hood is hinged on each side and as a result can be swung open to the right or the left, or even lifted off completely. That basic school bus style turn signal is function over form to a T.

The two holes above would have had the INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER emblem originally.

This beast sports locking front hubs which means it is equipped with four wheel drive from the factory. IH started offering 4x4 as an option across its entire line in 1953 due to the popularity of aftermarket conversions. I have no doubt that in first gear with 4-wheel Low engaged this truck could pull stumps out of the ground or move a small building. Top speed in 1st Low is probably around 10mph.
I love how unforgiving these tires are. They look old as hell and meant for mud & snow.

The running boards under the doors are making their last appearance with the S-Series. The A-Series which debuted in 1957 stood for Anniversary to celebrate their 50th birthday as a company. The newer trucks were much more modernized and really some of the glitziest vehicles ever produced by IH. That cab was more of a cohesive unit, sitting lower on the frame with doors going down to where these running boards are. They also had heavily chromed front ends and stacked quad lights.

I don't know what is in this wooden box but I love it. This primitive beast is all utility so I'm assuming there are tools or jumper cables or something within.

This stake side bed may indeed be a dump truck. Some of the S-Series trucks of this vintage had dumping capabilities even in the normal pickup style bed.

This thing is ready to work!

The gas tank is ridiculously basic; a tank under the cab with a filler tube attached. Zero frills.
Well that's where I left this brute while it awaits instructions from its master. If you can keep the rust at bay and provide the most basic of lubrication and maintenance you can drive one of these trucks forever. I had a '79 IH Scout and even though they look very different the basic running gear of this and that rig were more similar than dissimilar. The engine blocks are massive, heavily cast lumps that are meant to stay in the lower RPMs. Measured, deliberate power is the name of the game for IH who made their name providing lifeblood machinery for farms. The original owner of a truck like this might come to town every other week and spend the rest of the time on their land repairing things themselves. To see a stalwart old rig like this in Brooklyn was a treat.

Join the Club - It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

JOIN THE CLUB - IT'S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3!

I was a mere 2 blocks from my new digs recently when this drab little lunchbox took a stand:

Sweet but grumpy!
This is a 1969-1970 Ford Club Wagon 123 in some comprehensive overcast color. There was a '69 Ford color named Twilight Green Poly that was pretty close but I'm thinking this was the official hue of the camp this once belonged to. It needs a driver's side mirror stat. 

That front grill guard looks ready to push anything out of the way!
This generation of Ford van was introduced in 1969 and ran through 1974. You can whittle it down to '69-'70 here because the grill has 8 horizontal openings with FORD spelled out on the top one. The '71-'74 models had a larger, separate top opening with the Ford name in big letters and 4 smaller horizontal bars in segments underneath.

The previous generation had no front hood at all; you had to go into the cab to remove the "doghouse" engine cover for maintenance and repair. The generation after this one ran all the way from '75-1991 and had a more pronounced hood for even better access. These guys look a little stubby and the hood is good for checking fluids and maybe changing a belt but that's it.

The Club Wagon was the passenger version of the venerable Econoline series. This one is outfitted with the optional 12 passenger seating.

CAMP ALERT BLUEJACKETS GUARD U.S.A. with that sweet anchor intrigued me to no end. From their alumni Facebook page:
"The Bluejackets Guard USA Corps of Naval Cadets founded in 1936 by the late Captain Frank W. Rice, was a non profit, non sectarian naval youth organization serving boys and girls aged 9 to 18, from 1936 to 2000."
Their slogan was, or is: "Semper Vigilant".

These vans are basic boxes without too many frills. By the white painted bumper we know this was a stripper model not meant for luxury or flash. There isn't too much in the way of rust which is remarkable for a lifelong Northeast ride with original paint.

The words Club Wagon are perched on a rectangle containing three barely visible diamonds. If this were the high end trim version the word CHATEAU would be in this space.
*The Club Wagon had a longer 123.5" wheelbase, hence the 123 on the emblem.

The straightforward look of the rear of this ride would continue even after the next big design change. A 1991 Ford van is almost identical from the back with its vertical taillights framing the doors.

This beast took quite a knock but she's still standing after 48 years!

In the above pic you can see that this has one of those steps that emerges from under the floor when the doors are opened. Definitely the day camp edition van.
Did someone say day camp? How about the theme from Meatballs!

A radio! That's a big deal for a base model utility vehicle.
A three on the tree transmission is located on top of the steering column, and chances are it's mated to an inline 6 cylinder engine.

Love those basic dog dish or poverty hubcaps.

Well there we have it; the last of the Bluejackets ready for service!
My first memory of a van like this was in the Bad News Bears. Here's a clip of that awesome van in a slightly cringe-worthy scene that involves a woman running away. Oh you Bears!
I've had no less than 3 Ford Econolines but all were from 1986-1989. My favorite was the one pictured below:

This is a 1988 E-150 with an inline 6 cylinder mated to a 5 speed stick shift! The gearshift was about 4 feet long mounted to the floor. I bought it with old phone company decals on it and painted the stripes you see here. Then I loaded all my worldly possessions into it and moved cross country to California, getting an astonishing 20 miles to the gallon the whole time!
Don't let the difference in looks fool you; besides the fact that the Bluejackets van is for passengers and this has square headlights they are extremely similar. If I have the need (and parking) I will happily get another. In the meantime, stay vigilant BlueJackets Club Wagon 123!

Now even more Limited! Part Deux

NOW EVEN MORE LIMITED! PART DEUX

Look at this majestic beast holding back the mobile homes. I drove past this thing and was pulling a u-turn before I even registered what I'd seen. I'm glad I did because the proud owner came out and was all too happy to show it off!

This is a 1979 Ford LTD II in what I believe to be Light Champagne. Some people claim that LTD stands for Luxury/Trim/Decor along the lines of Gym/Tan/Laundry but I don't see much in the way of luxury here. What I do see is the Baroque styling of the Malaise Era. 

Something about the face of this ride looks extra ridiculous to me. Maybe the fact that it looks like the wide eyed smile of a close talker. 4 stacked square headlights brace that massive egg crate grill, all held in the parenthesis of the jutting fenders. The ocean liner sized bumper completes the image. Almost every other American car had downsized at this point, and this was the final year for the colossal Ford. Even the LTD had downsized; this is the LTD II! It's almost like they wanted to accentuate the scale it on its way out.
*You can tell it's a '79 because out of the 3 years total only this one had a hood ornament.

Let's get right in there and see the engine shall we? This is the rarest glimpse for a blog that relies on found automobiles; a perk of meeting a retired owner looking to sell his ride.
Under all that wiring lies a 302 V8 engine with a 2 barrel carb. Optional choices consisted of 2 different 351 V8s (the Windsor and the Modified). There was a 400 available for the first 2 years but it had been pulled by the time this beast was built.

Here is our hero in all its glory. The LTD II was the lowest price series in the Ford lineup, and this was the base model. As was common in the past this model barely made it into their sales literature. Every other LTD II had a small opera window between the rear door and the rear window; only the bare bones edition had solid metal. To have the faux spoke wheel hubcaps on this is ironic.

Here's a glimpse into the sparse interior. Bench seats front and rear come standard with a fold-down armrest if you're not shuttling 5 passengers. There is a radio of some sort but that's about it. Crank windows and manual locks keep it frugal. Of course the inside is entirely BROWN.

For the first year this car was popular as GM had downsized everything but the Cadillac Eldorado (which was for an entirely different demographic frankly). People still holding on to the big car ethos turned to Ford. Then Ford introduced the Fairmont line in '78 which lured away potential LTD customers. Finally in '79 this was it! You could either buy a massive Lincoln or the LTD II for this final year. When 1980 came around the LTD II was never actually replaced. Now it's getting rare.
I mean, who has this car anymore? To think the Taurus would be introduced a mere 6 years after this was sold new illustrates how behind the times this ride really was.

Sweet LTD II badge.
I once had a '76 LTD 4 door that was almost identical to this car. It was unexpectedly comfortable and the ride height was upright and tall. I'd say it was a deal at $250! Ran great - delivered pizzas with it.

Well that's it for the last gasp of big car America. Someone will always collect a special edition, station wagon, convertible, or luxury model car but who saves one of these stripped down rides? Regular folks is who. This was roosting in a small trailer park outside of Scranton, PA. This is red blooded steak eating America where people proudly bought sluggish Fords instead of more practical and efficient Japanese cars. This is a ride for those who never have a problem parking and change their flag every year. Not gonna lie - I'd love to cruise around in this slab these days, stacked square headlights and all. If you were so inclined they go for peanuts (I think his asking price was $3,000 but it was perfect in and out). Parts are so widely available and this is as easy to work on as a bicycle. Why not?