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Not an Olds, but a beauty anyway. '48 Chrysler New Yorker. Saw this oldster in a parking lot and had to stop and drool. The owner said " It's a '48, just like me." Straight Eight with Prestomatic Fluid Drive Transmission. Some sort of a fluid drive with a clutch. I had to look that up, it's a bit before my time. Love the art deco dash board.
Those old Chryslers are amazing, but fluid drive was its own animal. As I understand it, it was a two gear manual transmission with a hydraulic automatic part and a fluid coupling. The clutch was needed to take off, but, after that, no need (I think) and you took off in first gear, and you either let off and it shifted to third, then you shift to four, or you shift to two, and then let off and it shifts to four. You basically got three of the four gears on the way up, depending on who shifted first.
This is from my old man driving De Sotos in the 50s, no personal experience. Apparently, the parking brake also failed immediately so you carried a wooden wedge.
My father had an early 1950s Plymouth with "HyDrive", a conventional three on the tree but with a fluid coupling. You initially started the car rolling with the clutch shifting thru the gears as any other standard transmission. Once in 3rd gear you no longer used the clutch nor shifted gears; the trans stayed in third gear and the fluid coupling took over.
That thing'd look great slammed to the ground with some chromy 22" spinners, purple ambient lighting, a Dakota Digital dash and some red leather seats out of a late model Porsche.
That thing'd look great slammed to the ground with some chromy 22" spinners, purple ambient lighting, a Dakota Digital dash and some red leather seats out of a late model Porsche.
OLDER IS BETTER! With a young twist...
Saw this 48 Silver Streak last week at a cruise.
A lovely young woman was driving it. Had a dress on to match the color.
She and her dad found the time capsule, bought it from the 100-year-old owner who had purchased it new, and put it back on the road. It's an unrestored survivor.
Her enthusiasm for the car was uncanny for this 20s-something woman. I was impressed by both.
The decrepit dealer plastic was just removed from the seats. That's her dad's Pontiac next to her car
OLDER IS BETTER! With a young twist...
Saw this 48 Silver Streak last week at a cruise.
A lovely young woman was driving it. Had a dress on to match the color.
She and her dad found the time capsule, bought it from the 100-year-old owner who had purchased it new, and put it back on the road. It's an unrestored survivor.
Her enthusiasm for the car was uncanny for this 20s-something woman. I was impressed by both.
The decrepit dealer plastic was just removed from the seats. That's her dad's Pontiac next to her car.
My father had an early 1950s Plymouth with "HyDrive", a conventional three on the tree but with a fluid coupling. You initially started the car rolling with the clutch shifting thru the gears as any other standard transmission. Once in 3rd gear you no longer used the clutch nor shifted gears; the trans stayed in third gear and the fluid coupling took over.
Like I mentioned, I had to look it up. The clutch is only used for changing to reverse, low, or high. Once in gear the clutch is released and you can start/stop without it. Reverse is in the normal "3-on-the-tree" position. Low range is in the forward-up position, typically 2nd gear. High range is in the forward-down position. Low and High are both two-speed options. Accelerate up to ~15 mph and let up on the throttle, the trans will upshift. When you gain enough speed, press the clutch and move the shifter from low to high. Release the clutch and repeat the accelerate, let up, shift and continue. It is aparently normal for light driving to leave the trans in high range and only use the 3-4 shift.
Likewise when shifting to reverse, use the clutch to shift into gear, release the clutch, and drive in reverse as needed. I didn't read far enough to see how the park option works, but I expect the parking brake is an important part of it.
Hell I got photoed in Chicago Heights of all places on the way home from H/O Nationals on Sunday in something like yours. One hand on the wheel, one hand on a bitching 45. Couldn't wait to get to the cornfields.
Remember when you were a kid in your old neighborhood, there's was always an "older (OLD!)" man or woman who held onto that 20,30,40+ year car, and it was always in wonderful condition. And we all snickered at them while they drove down the block in it, for not "getting with the times" and buying a new car.
O.....A lovely young woman was driving it. Had a dress on to match the color.
She and her dad found the time capsule, bought it from the 100-year-old owner who had purchased it new, and put it back on the road. It's an unrestored survivor.
Her enthusiasm for the car was uncanny for this 20s-something woman. I was impressed by both.
The decrepit dealer plastic was just removed from the seats. That's her dad's Pontiac next to her car
Where's the pic of the young woman....lol
Speaking of this particular cruise night....you never sent me the pic of our cars together....post them up!
She was sharp! She said shes a regular on Thursdays.
I didn't want to be that obvious ahole plus her dad was eyeballing me. I just got shots of "Theodore" ...for now.
I'll (we'll) be back there before the seasons over. Not tomorrow though. Supposed to rain and I'm doing the rear end seals.
I would do the bearings too but I cannot locate USA made bearings and its not getting china landfill junk.
I'll pull the bearing seals wash them out and repack and go.
Hell I got photoed in Chicago Heights of all places on the way home from H/O Nationals on Sunday in something like yours. One hand on the wheel, one hand on a bitching 45. Couldn't wait to get to the cornfields.
I lived in Chicago Heights from the time I was 4 years old till I was about 24 ! At one time it was a great place to grow up and live !! But things change. At one time it was where some of the gangster types went when they didn’t want to be found ( along with some other near by places) when things would get a little too hot in DA HEIGHTS they would flee to Wisconsin.From what I understand there is still an active car culture there in surrounding areas. What relatives I still have back in IL. Live in Orland, LeMont or Arlington Park and Downers Grove . My 56 Olds was purchased in Downers Grove !! A beautiful village.
Remember when you were a kid in your old neighborhood, there's was always an "older (OLD!)" man or woman who held onto that 20,30,40+ year car, and it was always in wonderful condition. And we all snickered at them while they drove down the block in it, for not "getting with the times" and buying a new car.
I understand now.
Most of the people on our street drove 20 y/o or older vehicles. There was one Doctor that always had a new M/B Every Feb. Everyone else was rolling in mid 50's to late 60's in the early80's. Seemed normal to me. As everyone had old cars for dailies. Most all serviced at the same Irish guys garage/shop.
