Re: Authenticity vs. Modification

Posted by Anonymous On 2009/4/11 10:30:45

A few years ago, I was heading west to Seligman, Arizona, on old U.S. HIGHWAY 66 (now called "Route" 66 because of a goofy pop. song of the 1940's). Headed to a car show for "Route 66" buffs.

In my rear view mirror, suddenly appeared a bright orange car that at first I THOUGHT was a late 1930's Ford or Mercury.

We do not allow "ordinary man" cars to pass twelve cylinder Packards. So I picked up my speed from my normal 60-70 to a bit faster. The orange thing was still right on my tail.

Knowing that the top speed of pre war Ford products was barely 80, I figured it wouldn't take too much to lose this guy.

W R O N G

As my speedometer passed 95 or so, he blew by me like I was standing still. As he went by, I heard the distinctive whine of supercharger gears..!

Later at the event, when everyone was parked, this guy comes up to me and asks to see under my hood. "Why"...I asked? He explained he had to go over 120 to really pass me proper...! He couldn't quite comprehend how a flat-head six cylinder car could do what mine was doing. I explained that 1) the cylinder design had a wedge-shape combustion chamber, and 2) there were six more cylinders on the other side...!

Then he wanted to show off to me his "39 Mercury". I walked over to his '39 Mercury and really did admire the workmanship. Beautifully done both inside and out. First class job with first class materials.

But I did ask him, expressed curiosity, since I did not know that 1939 Mercury cars had Jaguar rear suspension. Then I expressed puzzlement because I did not recall 1939 Mercury cars having "big block" Chevrolet motors, or L80E four speed automatic overdrive transmissions.

Then I expressed puzzlement because I did not know that 1939 Merc's had fiber-glass fenders. I also did not recognize the full independant front suspension from a late model car as being available in 1939 Mercs.

He thought I was being funny. As he explained, nobody in their right mind would want a REAL 1939 Mercury; certainly if they wanted to actually DRIVE the thing! He assured me there wasnt so much as a bolt or nut off a REAL 1939 Mercury on his car. When I walked away he was sill shaking his head, trying to get his brain around the fact that he had just seen a guy actually driving a "bone stock" car from the 1930's...

()o.k...so I have a "high speed" differential gear set)..!