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In respectful memory of the senior gentleman from Mahomet Illinois, whose death in 2017 prompted the sale of his 1950 Rocket 88 sedan. I bought the car and shipped it over to the port of Felixstowe in England in September 2017. It just stood out as a rare beauty among the other imported cars on the dockside. The full shop manual, handbook, spare parts and upgrade items I found in the trunk showed just how much the gentleman planned to do with the vehicle. I felt a real sense of responsibility to continue his work, so it's been a labour of love to work on it and get it starting, running and handling as it should. The bonus for me has been the chance to send updates on the car's progress and her adventures to the widow of the previous owner and her kind neighbour who stepped up to help with all the admin work to sell it. . .
Pictured at Louth Car show in Lincolnshire 2019 near to where I live. Bit of history about the place: the School in town - King Edward VI Grammar School - is on the site of the original School of that name, where John Smith - of Pocahontas story - was educated and later where poet Alfred Lord Tennyson attended as a boy. Just out of frame on the right is the pub 'The Mason's Arms' which Bernie Taupin, Elton John's lyricist, frequented as a young man. He was born and raised in the area.
Last edited by Oldslincs; Jun 7, 2020 at 10:44 AM.
Your car looks great im sure the PO is happy w your work
Yes I'm sure he would have been very pleased Retro,, especially with the rebuild of the turtleback carburettor. Hal Houghton of the Classic Preservation Coalition, based in Schenectady, restored the power valve for me and supplied the rebuild kit. It transformed how the 88 started and ran. I don't live in fear of pulling away from junctions now and wondering if it's going to hesitate or stall.
Good history both of the car and of the area and people it now resides with.... Tedd
Thanks Tedd. The picture was taken in Louth Town centre as we lined up before the road run through nearby countryside, then on to a field just outside of town where the car show was held. To my surprise,among the classic cars was an early Hudson, a model-T Ford and a 1935 Rolls Royce once owned by Douglas Fairbanks Snr and later by Clark Gable. The things you find at little-town car shows!
I was hoping to see it again at this year's show, but everything's been cancelled like everywhere else.
Great story. Thanks for sharing it. The car would look a lot nicer without the Yankee shirt next to it
You're very welcome Chuck. Your comment about the Yankees shirt had me smiling, remembering the time I was at the airport in NY on my way back home after buying the shirt at an official merchandise shop as a memento of my visit in 2006 on the recommendation of my landlady who was a Yankees fan. There I was standing in line at the check-in, wearing my new acquisition when the man behind me said something like - "hey nice to see a fellow Yankees fan wearing the shirt".
Luckily for me, I'd watched a few games on British TV so although I didn't really have a favourite team, I knew the names of one or two star players and some managers from several teams in the league, including Yankees Manager Joe Torre, at that time, whose name stuck in my mind for some reason. I didn't have the heart to tell my new friend that I'd just bought the shirt mainly as a memento, especially since he seemed genuinely amazed that a Brit supported the Yankees. I knew I was skating on very thin ice though when he said "so who do you rate as our best signing?"
I wanted to say Roger Clemens because I knew his name and thought he was a great pitcher, but It occurred to me that he'd already left, so I said the only other name I could think of. "Joe Torre's been our best signing" I said. The guy looked at me blankly for a second then broke into a big grin and said you know what, I didn't see that coming, but yeh I agree he HAS been our best signing! I like that! Not as much as I like it I thought - thank you for popping into my mind at the right time Joe! . I do have a soft spot for the Yankees though, truth be told and my brief meeting with that very genuine guy and true supporter is the main reason for it.
Last edited by Oldslincs; Jun 19, 2020 at 05:11 PM.
Nice story, nice car...how about those hood ornaments back then!
I was apprehensive at first, sitting on the left and driving it on the left, but there's an unexpected benefit to that around here . A lot of the country lanes nearby are really narrow, so being seated on the left makes it easier to get right up to the road edge to allow space for vehicles to pass on the other side
Yes those hood ornaments are amazing. I couldn't believe it when I saw the same rocket ornament for sale in an antiques shop in Louth, the nearest town to me. Olds seemed to change the design a bit during the 50s, but the one in the shop, in little old rural Louth, was exactly the same as mine! I told the lady proprietor, that I'd got one just like that at home; and showed her a picture? When she saw it she laughed and said if only you'd come here first, I could have saved you all the trouble of buying that heavy base to go with it!
. I do have a soft spot for the Yankees though, truth be told and my brief meeting with that very genuine guy and true supporter is the main reason for it.
