chop

["Mahoney, John" <jmahoney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>
thing he had was a wonderful 1907 Rambler sales
brochure, the front cover and first several pages had
water-damage enough to make a hole, but the rest of
the inside pages were pristine, damn clean, and crisp.
Unbelievable shape for something that old. He wanted
$100 for it, I didn't take him up on his generous low
price, but was wondering what anyone else might think
an original 25 page or so Rambler brochure might be
worth. It had some color printing, listed models, etc.
The covers had 3 holes and were tied to the pages with
multi-strand thread and had nice end-cap bangles on
the free ends. Pretty nifty piece. I don't need it,
<<

>>
Actually $100 is a good price for any pre World War I literature, even with
some damage. It's just very rare. Even advertisements are not all that
common although fairly cheap when you do find them . But the factory
literature that old is just pure Gold. Few pieces survived especially pre
World War I stuff. Not until the 30s & 40s did any one really start to
collect automobile literature. The World War I stuff runs $100 to $200; the
20s stuff is usually only one or two colors and depending on size and
condition any where from $20 for ratty to $75 or so mint condition; 30s
stuff runs $40 to $75
<<

Jerry and Larry may be pleased to know that, depending on scarcity, early
pieces can be worth very much more than that.  I can't recall what my '00s
Rambler catalogs cost (and can't guess what they're worth), but can offer a
couple of currently-available catalogs for comparison.  (Condition is noted
and price is firm.)

"Locomobile Gasolene Touring Cars" 36-page non-color catalog, 6x10.  Gray
cover with red and black lettering and heavy black line frame.  Five
full-page photographs of Locomobile 16-22 H.P. Type D Tonneau Deluxe, "King
of the Belgians", "King of the Belgians with Canopy Top" and Limousine and
9-12 H.P. Type C Tonneau.  Fifteen additional photographs show engine,
chassis, mechanical parts and manufacturing facility.  Includes
introduction, list of features, discussion, specifications, warranty
information and tipped-in 5x7 pink "Price List".  Shows minimal handling.
Copyright 1904.  $300.

"Pierce-Arrow" 44-page color catalog, 12x9. Heavy beige black cord bound
covers with gold on black lettering and window-style drawing of man and
woman.  Front and back covers have flap that folds inside, followed by four
black pages with gold design, giving effect of very heavy covers.  Features
Pierce-Arrow Two-Passenger Runabout, Four-, Six- and Seven-Passenger Touring
Cars, Coupe-Sedan, Sedan, Vestibule Sedan, Brougham, Limousine and
Landaulet. 32 pages of description and art includes 14 color drawings, ten
finely detailed side profiles of the different models, six views of
mechanical features and dimensional drawings on yellow background of ten
seating arrangements.  Cover shows light handling and has 1" tear that has
been taped.  Copyright 1920.  $650.

So-called "lesser-make" lit isn't as expensive, but a complete '07 Rambler
book with color for $100 sounds cheap.

Speaking of cheap, if any readers want a Teague-trimmed '53 Packard 250 at a
Rambler price ($6,900) or a Teague-trimmed Caribbean --- the real, virtually
hand-built thing --- for a Packard pittance ($23,000 now; $50-100,000
tomorrow), here's where to start things clicking:

http://groups.msn.com/edcars3/edcars3.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=585

My only interest is in where such cars are going

http://www.grandprixclassics.com/FactSheets/buick_sky_redconv_1954.htm

(and in their competitor's '31 P-A stablemate...)

http://www.grandprixclassics.com/current_inventory.htm 

(Close-coupled -and- LeBaron?!  Oh, woe is me...)  

(And woe is you if you wandered Ed's boneyard...)
 
>>
I'm thinking of RETRO for my EAGLE series 50
make-over.

Some HUDSON hood lettering, perhaps the Twin H
Power script, and of course that wonderful
HOLLYWOOD trim script for the doors and dash
with the added - X - designate,
just to bring back that taste of yester-year Bravado.

If I could get a 1949 or 50 HUDSON Dashboard to fit
- I would
have that in a heart-beat.

When it comes to AMC, hey....... it's all in the Family
:}

 Acquire - Mutate - Correlate!
<<

And repeat history, Brien.  A '54 Hudson gauge cluster housing mounted onto
a panel adapted to fit the the '55 Nash instrument panel was a symbolic (and
a very smart --- put some old Hudson right in front of the driver of every
new Hudson-Nash; the '54 Hudson steering wheel was adapted also --- early
AMC tack.

Nash roof got new quarters for Hudson rear window and, while new wheel
covers were specially-designed for Hudson, Wasp Super sedans used '54
hubcaps.

Plus Hudson, of course, had its own wider (59.5") front track.  AMC tried to
retain Hudson's image and quality; they just didn't have enough $$$ to do it
right.