Imagine you find yourself in a conversation with a stranger over a 1965 Mustang Fastback. You may not be a car aficionado, but this person is. You’re both talking about how the vehicle is a beauty. You say something like “what a gorgeous classic car.” Then you get a sinking feeling as the person looks at you before saying “Um… actually…” You may have just committed a faux pas, at least in that person’s eyes. So how can we accurately describe and classify cars? Well, it depends on who you ask.
Many look at convertibles as the ultimate in luxury driving. Having that top down as you cruise the city streets has been an appealing piece of car culture for as long as anybody can remember. However, despite its innovativeness, convertibles aren’t as lavish as people may think. In fact, there was a time when ALL automobiles on the road were open-topped, and we imagine it wasn’t all that great. Before the turn of the nineteenth century, if you were out driving in your fancy motor-powered vehicle and encountered some inclement weather, well, you either had to be pretty innovative yourself, or you needed to find a tree to park under! Read on for an interesting look at the history of the convertible.
Spending a month or two driving across the country - exploring national parks, adventuring in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, relaxing on pristine coastal beaches - sounds like a fantastic dream. The reality however, generally has something to do with the expense of a trip like that. We simply can’t afford that kind of travel. Or can we? What if we could cut out all of the lodging costs? What if we didn’t have to eat out at restaurants? What if we could simply travel city to city, or park to park, and pull into a campground each night? Those are some things we could get on board with!
That’s where the travel van comes in. For the sake of this article, and our wallets, we’re going to keep this idea pretty basic. There won’t be a bunch of talk about stand up showers or indoor plumbing. You won’t see any sophisticated entertainment options, or feng shui inspired interiors. We’re keeping it bare bones. That’s how we’ll be able to afford this epic adventure.
We think we have this idea pretty well thought out after doing some research, and that this dream can be put into real life by following these fairly simple steps:
Warning: If you have yet to watch Ford V Ferrari and don’t know the true story behind the movie, you may want to tread lightly. Spoilers ahead!
On the heels of the massive success of the new film Ford V. Ferrari, we thought it would be interesting to learn a bit more about the hall of fame driver responsible for the Ford Shelby winning (sort of) the 24 hour Le Mans endurance race in 1966, after five consecutive years of Ferrari dominance. We knew the name Ken Miles, and we knew about his genius ability to race high powered, high performance vehicles around any race track that was put under his foot pedals.
What we didn’t know, however, was that there were many people that didn’t believe he died in a fiery crash on August 17, 1966 while test driving the new Ford J-car prototype, just two months after racing in the biggest race of his career. The Le Mans race itself is for another blog at another time; today we want to share with you the story of Ken Miles surviving the crash that claimed his life, or…didn’t?
There’s a sort of romance involved in taking on a restoration project. The idea of finding a junkyard gem, long forgotten and tossed aside, and bringing it back to life is on the top of many-a car enthusiasts bucket list. For most of us, it will stay solely on our minds and on that list, along with so many other items that will most likely never to come to fruition. But for those bold enough to follow through with that dream, the reward can be a once in a lifetime feeling.
Did you know that Buick is not only the oldest car brand in the United States, but is one of the oldest in the entire world? Although Buicks are generally associated with wealthier, older car buyers, their distinguishable features are recognized by those of all walks of life, and their popularity has only increased in recent years. Read on to learn about the long history, and more interesting facts, of the brand that continues to stand the test of time.
On August 17th, the Pioneer Auto Show invited those near and far to join in on partying like it’s 1954 at a bash commemorating our 65th year in business! The clear, sunny day provided the perfect opportunity for everyone to join together in festivities for all ages, including kids’ rides, a costume contest, 50’s karaoke, a car show and parade, and a street dance that led into the wee hours of the night. Read on for more fun details about our big celebration!
For the majority of classic cars, an old abandoned prairie farmhouse or a scrap yard becomes their final resting place. Rusted, parted-out, or simply left behind from an earlier generation, these classics will never see the open road again. Far too often we come across one of these once beautiful machines and think, wow, what a waste. Back in ’57, every kid in my neighborhood would’ve mowed lawns from sun-up to sundown to get their hands around that steering wheel. But so it goes, I suppose. “They don’t make ‘em like that anymore” is a very true statement, and probably for good reason. As James May once said, if they were any good, they’d still be made. The fact of the matter is, modern cars are faster, more reliable, more comfortable, and more economical. You name it; modern cars of today are just better machines.
And yet, the classic car is not only still around, but is looked at as a thing of beauty, and the industry is thriving. Why is that? Why the love affair with classic cars? Why do we romanticize the idea of hitting the highways in an old gas hound from the thirties, or tearing around the town at a full speed of 63 mph in a once loved sports model? The answer is not a simple one, but there are several factors that come into play, and each classic car enthusiast surely has their own reason for letting their hearts wander towards the classics.
It all started in 1954, with AJ ‘Dick’ Geisler displaying a 1913 Ford Peddler’s Wagon to attract customers to his new gas station, and now here we are, 65 years later, with over 275 rare and classic cars, 60 tractors, 60 motorcycles, and more antiques and memorabilia than can be seen in a single day. That’s right, Pioneer Auto Show is turning the big 65 and we want to celebrate this monumental occasion with all of you! On Saturday, August 17th, 2019, we’ll be offering $1.00 admission to the museum, and will also be hosting an event chock full of fun for all ages, complete with a car Show and Shine, street dance and much more. Read on for more details about this all day bash!
Here at the Pioneer Auto Show, we’re gearing up for an extra special summer, as this year marks 65 years since our museum was started by AJ ‘Dick’ Geisler! Over the last 65 years, many things have changed: cars, music, technology, the list goes on and on. But one thing remains the same – the Pioneer Auto Show is the place to go for a peek into the past while surrounded by good old-fashioned Midwest hospitality. Since 1954 was the big year for Pioneer Auto Show, we wanted to take you back to that magical time!
