DECEMBER 15 MSCC STAR OF THE WEEK: 1960 STUDEBAKER HAWK-GOODBYE TO THE FIN ERA
Big fins were on the verge of extinction in 1960 with the Big Three. Chevy and Ford would lose them in 1961 and Plymouth lost them in ’62.
Studebaker was door number four in North America and they shed their fins the same year but in some ways it was a leap back to ’55 when Studees were finless.
You could call it a back to the future car.
This was Studebaker’s reaction to the styling change because by 1960, that’s all they could do is react. In fact, the fins were a reaction to the rocket ship 50s Detroit styling changes.
This MSCC Star of the Week 1960 Studebaker Hawk is a throwback to an era when a little company did what it could to survive in the North American automotive jungle.
DECEMBER 14 MSCC STAR OF THE DAY: ’54 DODGE STATION WAGON – LONG ROOF WITH MAJOR COOL FACTOR
The 1954 Dodge station wagon didn’t inspire in the James Dean era.
In fact, this would have been the kind of car James Dean’s father would have driven to the police station in Rebel Without a Cause.
Fortunately, a later generation of rebels with a cause had a vision for these 50s station wagons.
This particular example was at a 2010 show and it easily earned MSCC Star of the Day honors based on sheer cool factor.
James Dean would have agreed
DECEMBER 13 MSCC STAR OF THE DAY: ’27 CHEVY TOW TRUCK-STATE OF THE ART ROADSIDE RESCUE IN THE ROARING 20S
The 1920s was a decade when the car population exploded and with that growth came the need for roadside rescue.
This was an era with few home phones and no cell phones.
You were on your own when that old Model T quit so most rescues came in the form of a farmer with a team of horses.
This MSCC Star of the Day 1927 Chevrolet is what showed up as state of the art emergency service.
You can bet it didn’t show up via a text message.
MSCC DECEMBER 12 MSCC STAR OF THE DAY: ’68 FURY CONVERTIBLE…SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVIN’ IS EASY
The coolest rides in the summer go topless.
This MSCC Star of the Day 1968 Plymouth Fury convertible was at a show back in July 2011 when it was summertime and the living was easy.
We spend a lot of time inside cars because “inside” makes a lot more sense when the snow flies and it’s -25.
Summer changes the game in a big way.
1968 Plymouth Furys were basically large, functional family cars with a payload that would humble a Kenworth but very few people saw Frank Sinatra cool in these cars.
Take the roof off the Fury and you have The Chairman of the Board on four wheels.
DECEMBER 11 MSCC STAR OF THE DAY: ’59 FORD RETRACTABLE-BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Ford definitely had a better idea in 1957 when they built the retractable hardtop.
This was a car that had all the benefits of a convertible blended with the practicality of a fixed roof hardtop.
The Ford hardtop-convertible would run for three years and ended in ’59.
This MSCC Star of the Day was at a show back in 2012.
MSCC DECEMBER 10 STAR OF THE DAY: ’63 CHEVY NOVA WAGON-THE ORIGINAL MINIVAN
The minivan officially debuted in 1984 with the Dodge Caravan. It was born out of a need for a compact, fuel efficient, well-designed family hauler.
This is the vehicle that very likely saved Chrysler back in the 80s.
They called it the first minivan but in reality the concept was around longer in the form of this ’63 Nova wagon. They were smaller, fuel efficient wagons that made use of every cubic inch inside the passenger compartment.
This MSCC Star of the Day 1st gen minivan was at a September 2013 car show.
DECEMBER 9 MSCC STAR OF THE DAY: THE FORGOTTEN ERA FOR DODGE TRUCKS
History will show the Dodge trucks were in third place for sales most of the time. They were rugged and reliable working vehicles but Ford and Chevy eclipsed them year after year.
They never enjoyed the iconic status of the ’56 Ford or the ’72 Chevy within the car hobby.
Dodge trucks were like background scenery at job sites because they always around but nobody noticed them.
The ’72-76 Dodge truck era was an excellent example of a no-name era for Dodge pickups even though Dodge was the first truck to offer badly-needed extra cab space with their Club Cab option in 1973.
This MSCC Star of the Day shortbox Dodge is a great example of how a 70s era ride can fly under the radar for decades and emerge as a star in 2013.
Star of the Day page sponsored by Southside Dodge.
