STAR OF THE WEEK: AMPHICAR MODEL 770-FASTEST CAR IN THE WATER-FASTEST BOAT ON LAND
The Amphicar was the most unique vehicle built in the 60s.
People were amazed at this little car that could drive right off the road and into a lake with the ease of a duck.
Kids were fascinated by Amphicars during their run because they turned up on TV in and in magazines and they oozed hi-tech 60s cool.
President Lyndon Johnson was photographed behind the wheel of an Amphicar so their influence extended to the highest office in the United States.
Amphicars weren’t particularly fast, reliable or durable but that didn’t matter because they were amphibious.
These MSCC Star of the Week Amphicars were spotted in Florida a few days ago and nobody could deny they were the fastest cars in water and the fastest boats on land that day…or any day.
MSCC MAY 9 STAR OF THE DAY: DART SWINGER—MOPAR’S AFFORDABLE POCKET ROCKET
The default position for classic Mopar muscle is often summed up in one number and one word-426 Hemi.
The hemis get all the glory but the pound for pound winners on the street were the little A-bodies.
They weighed in at just over 3300 pounds and that gave them a huge advantage with a 340 under the hood.
This Star of the Day 340 Swinger was on the street last summer was a great example of Mopar’s affordable little pocket rocket.
MSCC MAY 8 STAR OF THE DAY: ’58 OLDS—THEY WERE BUILT FOR THE TURNPIKE
The Interstate highway system was born on June 29, 1956 with the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act.
This system was the dream of Dwight Eisenhower and it was based on the optimism of the post-war years combined with a need for a far more efficient highway system.
The other factor was new tech 50s cars that could handle freeway speeds with ease.
This MSCC May 8 Star of the Day ’58 Olds on the street back in 2010 and it was a great example of a car built for the new Interstate turnpikes back in the 50s.
MSCC MAY 7 STAR OF THE DAY: ’64 NOVA GASSER—BEATLEMANIA ERA BRUTE FORCE CHEVY
There were many cool trends in 1964.
One trend was called Beatlemania and the other was the evolution of the gasser.
Gassers looked every bit the part of the strip machine because that’s the only place you could run one without attracting a lot of attention from the authorities.
Fortunately this MSCC Star of the Day ’64 Nova gasser made a rare street appearance two weeks ago.
MSCC MAY 6 STAR OF THE DAY: ’51 FORD TRUCK—HANK WILLIAMS ERA HOT ROD
The legendary Hank Williams was a force in the early 1950s because he spoke to the honky tonk guys in words they could understand.
He talked about hot rod Fords and two dollar bills because back in the early 50s, two bucks and a hot rod Ford carried a lot of weight.
Unfortunately, Hank didn’t get past the early 1950s but his songs live on to this day.
This MSCC Star of the Day ’51 Ford was on the street a few days ago and it definitely carried the Hank Williams era spirit.
MSCC MAY 5 STAR OF THE DAY: VW VAN-GRAB A PIECE OF HIPPIE HISTORY
Want any evidence that the Volkswagen van was the default choice of hippies? Take a look at any film from Woodstock, Altamont or San Francisco during the Summer of Love.
They were cheap to buy, cheap to run and if you ripped out the seats you could haul 20-25 of your closest hippie pals to the next Love-In.
VW vans were like a hippie status symbol in the 60s so if you were behind the wheel you were accepted by the counterculture and searched by the police.
This MSCC Star of the Day VW van was on the street back in 2011.
MSCC MAY 4 STAR OF THE DAY: 1970 ROAD RUNNER—IT BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN THE 60S AND 70S
1970 was a pivotal year in many ways.
There were still many links to the 60s but they started to disappear in 1970 when 60s icons like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix didn’t survive the year.
A new decade was ahead and the 60s philosophy would be history in less than five years.
This MSCC Star of the Day 1970 Road Runner definitely had links to the 60s version but the ’71 Runner said welcome to the 1970s.
For past MSCC Stars of the Day please follow this link.
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