Volume III, Issue 12

brown cardboard box in which they were shipped. On the box I write with a black felt marker, on each and every surface, the car it is for and what is in the box. The “each and every surface” thing is important. Why? Because no matter how the Continued–P. 2

Well, we are wrapping up another calendar year. The holiday season is soon to be upon us. If there is any doubt about that, just check out the t.v. commercials. Christmas has been hawked since October!

What do car collectors want for Xmas? If I could have any-thing I wanted, it would be SPACE! Space for cars, parts, books/manuals; u-name-it. Un-fortunately, absent moving or undertaking renovations, the ability to get more space is non-existent..

In the hopes it may prove helpful, I will detail what I have done to make use of the limited space available to me. First and foremost is to get organized. The problem of lack of enough space is severely compounded when everything is strewn all over.

I have a veritable slew of manuals and documents relating

to my Allanté, Coupé de Ville and Olds. To end having to search all over for the printed doc I need, I built a bookcase in my garage. It is anything but fancy. However, it works by keeping all my materials handy, and in one place; right next to my workbench.

To organize these materials I have purchased hard cover 3-post binders; the kind you often see at parts stores. They are rugged and lay flat when open. I have at least one for each of my three rides. The materials in the binders are further organ-ized via alphabetical tabs. It does make it a lot easier to find what I need, when I need it.

Small parts (ignition, electrical, lenses, whatnot), are stored in plastic storage bins. If is it small enough to fit, into a bin it goes. Each car gets as many bins as needed.

I keep many spare parts in the

That Time of Year

GDYNets® on the Web

Find GDYNets on the web:

CCC® -THE FORUM ←New

http://ccc.activeboard.com

Car Collector Chronicles-scribd

Saved 62 - 1962 Olds web site http://www.freewebs.com/jeandaveyaros The Gray Lady - 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville web site

SAVED 62: A website devoted to our 1962 Oldsmobile Dy-namic 88 convertible. The site also has a lot of information on Oldsmobiles and its founder, Ransom Eli Olds.

THE GRAY LADY: This web-site features our 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville and Caddy in-formation.

DAVE’S DEN: A website de-voted to a myriad of interests. Foremost is extensive informa-tion on the “Steel City” of Gary, IN. There are also offerings on steel making, U.S. Steel-Gary Works, U.S. Marine Corps, M14 assault rifle, of course Oldsmo-bile, and the tragic story of the murder of Gary, IN Police Lt. George Yaros.

A GDYNETS® PUBLICATION © 2010, G. DAVID YAROS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 2010 Car lHappy Holidays!

Car Collector Chronicles®

Exploring:

Car Collecting Today

Classic Rides

Reports From the Field

Oldsmobile (1897-2004)

Cadillac (1902- )

Allanté (1987-1993)

Corvair (1960-1969)

IN THIS ISSUE:

That Time of Year 1

GDYNets On the Web

1

Neat Site! 2

Automobilia 3

Coming Next Is-sue

4

Photo Page 5

CCC® -The Forum EMail: OldsD88@gmail.com

box ends up being placed, one knows what is in it without having to open it. Ridiculously simple, true. But, it is a real time saver that wards off frustration and exasperation. I am speaking from real-world experi-ence here! My computer stores the many car related records and information that I do not need to hold in my hand. The only space they occupy is on my hard drive. Should I need the reassurance of a piece of paper, I always have the option to print out the material. If you are like me, and vehicle space is limited, I find it helpful when working on a car to move the daily driver out of the car barn. The empty stall gives me “walking around” space. By doing so I am not forced to constantly have to navigate around a vehicle to get to a tool, the work-bench, or whatever. It makes things go a lot quicker, and dissipates the feeling of being in cramped, close quarters. The last point I will make is that taking steps too create the illusion of space is a good thing. This can best be accomplished through a surplus of overhead lighting. Not being in the car barn at this moment, I believe the number of dual-tube, 4-foot, fluorescent ceiling light units I have is 13. When they are on, there are no dark corners in the garage. Conse-quently, one does not feel as though they are working in an under-ground cave. I can say with certainty that there simply is no such thing as too much light. Hopefully, the above may contain a tip that makes your work environ-ment more user friendly? Annual Index In a separate publication, you will find the 2010 Annual Index. It’s pur-pose is to assist you in locating anything/everything published in CCC® this year. Neat Site! I ran across a really neat web site for owners of GM rides from 1980 and later. You enter your VIN, and if it is in the database, it will give you tons of info about your car. Our ’92 Allanté, for reasons I have yet to determine, has no build date

THAT TIME OF YEAR—Continued

Car Collector Chronicles Page 2

“My computer

stores the

many car

related

records and

information

that I do not

need to hold in

my hand. The

only space

they occupy is

on my hard

drive.”

sticker on the door. One of the items I was able to retrieve from this site was the date our car rolled off the assembly line; Wednesday, 11/13/1991. The site also told me how many cars with our particular color and options were manufactured by Cadillac in 1992. It turns out that ours is 1-of-153 similarly equipped. The site also provides part diagrams and numbers. This feature is really handy in trying to track down an elusive item. The one drawback is, no cars before 1980 are in the database. Also, not every GM VIN from 1980 on is in the database. I do not know who gathered all this info and did the necessary programming to make the database readily searchable? The named techy for the site is one Ja-son Humphrey. Whoever it was, they are to be commended! The site is owned and operated by Comp Nine, a Georgia based auto parts supplier. The link for the site is http://www.compnine.com/vid.php. If your car fits the database parameters, do grab your VIN and check it out!

Automobilia

I recently acquired a few trinkets of automobile memorabilia that give rise to this topic. I like employee badges. I think it is neat to have something that was actually in the plant, and used by an autoworker daily. Employee badges fill that bill. My recent acquisitions include employee badges from American Mo-tors, REO Motors and Studebaker. I also have a badge from the Oldsmobile plant in Lansing, MI. These are all actual employee badges, from back in the day, not repops. Of course, all these companies have ceased operations. Of the three, AMC had the shortest lifespan. It was formed in 1954, with the merger of Nash and Hudson. It ceased operations in 1987. Its final model was the AMC Eagle. It built cars at a plant fairly close to me, in Kenosha, WI. (The plant was sold to Chrysler, and is now closed.) I once owned an AMC car. In fact, it was the very first brand new car I ever bought. After graduating from law school I took the plunge and bought a brand spanking new 1973 Gremlin. Prior to that my ride had been an aging 1963 Ford Falcon Futura convertible. I really did not own the Gremlin long enough to form an impression. Unfortunately, I totaled the car in 1975, and took a beating from my insurance company, which subse-quently refused to issue me another policy!

“The site also

told me how

many cars

with our

particular

color and

options were

manufactured

by Cadillac in

1992. It turns

out that ours

is 1-of-153

similarly

equipped.”

Car Collector Chronicles Page 3

Car Collector Chronicles Page 4;;

Automobilia—Cont’d.

What I do recall about AMC is that the cars were assembled with whatever parts hap-pened to be available at the time. One was just as likely to find Delco parts, as they would MOPAR or FOMOCO. Whoever was giving the best deal that week was from whom they purchased needed parts. REO Motors was an automobile company Ransom Eli Olds (REO) started after leaving Olds Motor Works in a fit of angst in 1904. It manufactured automobiles from 1905 through 1936. It continued making trucks through 1975. At one point it out sold Oldsmobile, and was the fourth largest automobile producer in the U.S. REOs were very fine automobiles, exhibited high levels of engineering, and were not cheap. The combi-nation of the Great Depression, pricing and increased competition brought about the downfall of REO Motors. Studebaker has a long, long history, having started in 1856, making farm wagons. I have seen an early Studebaker wagon at the South Bend, IN museum. The workman-ship is readily apparent, even to an inexperienced eye. Studebaker produced autos from 1904 through 1966. Shortly before the end, the com-pany merged with Packard. Memorable models were the President, Golden Hawk and Avanti. The Avanti is still being produced today, albeit by an independent fabricator. Another interesting tidbit about Studebaker is that it acquired STP® Oil Treatment in 1961. STP was but an acronym for “Scientifically Treated Petroleum.” On acquisition, Studebaker advertising referred to STP as representing “Studebaker Tested Products.” Unlike Studebaker, STP® is still around today. Some swear by it, while others view it as snake oil. On the next page you will find pictures of the employee badges giving rise to this so-journ down memory lane, as well as photos of machines from these now departed auto-mobile manufacturers. Ok, I have had my say for this month. Now it is your turn! I invite/encourage submission of your comments, opinions and contributions, and ask that you help spread the word about our pub. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be sent to CCC® at: OldsD88@gmail.com. You are now also able to have your say on the CCC® Forum. Come on by and rattle my tree … . _______________________________________

-- RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM! COMING NEXT ISSUE: Car Collector Chronicles® - THE FORUM Fate of Our Rides Oldsmobilography

1955 Nash Cross Country 1987 AMC Eagle

1906 REO Runabout 1931 REO Royale Victoria

1908 Studebaker Limousine 1966 Studebaker Lark VIII

Car Collector Chronicles Page 5;