A LOOK BACK AT 50 YEARS OF Timeline
1971
Chet Krause founds Old Cars as a monthly newspaper Dave Brownell is 1st OC editor Milestone Car Society founded International Ford Retractable Club founded American Truck Historical Society founded
1972
8-mile 1951 Olds with 8 miles sells for $2,750 in Charlotte, N.C. Harold Coker installed as 1972 president of AACA Henry Austin Clark, Jr.’s “Young Nuts and Old Bolts” column begins Greta Garbo Duesenberg sells for $90,000 at Labor Day auction. “National attention was now being focused on the old car hobby.” Wisconsin begins offering collector license plates
1973
OC now published twice-monthly Mack gives $1 million to establish American Truck Historical Museum and Library Bob Lichty joins OC as ad manager Richard A. Dick Teague assumes Jeep styling duties at AMC 20-year-old cars in Nebraska get collector plates First Duesenberg to hit $100,000 mark sells at Kruse Classic Auction company Gas shortage results in fewer cars at shows Hitler’s 770K sells for record price of $176,000 Bonnie and Clyde Ford sedan “death car” sells for $175,999 Chrysler Town & Country registry formed
1974
Terry Boyce joins OC editorial staff AACA lifts age limit to 1949 Bill Harrah gives tour to 2 millionth visitor of Harrah’s Automobile Collection MSRA holds 1st “Back to the 50’s” in St. Paul Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum opens July 6 Packards come to Warren for 75th anniversary meet Rain plagues first Carlisle meet, “Postwar ’74,” the start of Carlisle Events OC now published bi-weekly Ford of Canada observes 70 years, 9 million cars Metropolitan Owners Club created
1975
Rick McLaughlin joins OC as associate editor Governor Ronald Reagan signs California Historical Vehicle Bill CCCA expands to include “certain outstanding postwar automobiles through 1948.” Old Cars Price Guide published inside OC AMC Pacer wins American Iron and Steel Institute’s “Design in Steel” award Detroit Public Library’s literature collection now “National Automotive History Collection” Revival of 1908 around-the-world race planned in connection with U.S. bicentennial First National Woodie Meet held, hosted by Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Ohio passes collector vehicle licensing bill Carlisle in October doubles in size, more than 1,000 vendors on hand; Hershey is muddy Catalytic convertors become the norm, leaded fuel disappears from gas stations Chrysler products return to Detroit for corporation’s 50th anniversary year Famed prewar car hoarder B.J. Pollard of Detroit holds first dispersal auction.
1976
GM gives first Chevette to Flint’s Sloan Museum (January) Landmark Ormond (Fla.) Garage, “Birthplace of Speed,” destroyed by fire Gerald Perschbacher’s first OC article appears Franklin Club prepares 25th anniversary celebration 100 pre-World War I cars destroyed in Barney Pollard collection fire on March 24 Last U.S. convertible, a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado, is built on April 21 First fiberglass car, 1944 Stout Scarab, added to Detroit Historical Museum New Indianapolis Speedway Museum opens to public “without fanfare” Hobbyists open Museum of Automobiles atop Petit Jean Mountain with Rockefeller cars Leaded gas supply said to be “adequate for future use” says superintendent of technical information services for Ethyl Corp. Lagonda name returns with new Aston Martin sedan model at London Motor Exhibit
1977
R. Chris Halla joins OC editorial staff First Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap and Show held 851 Rolls-Royces gather at Windsor Castle for Silver Jubilee Tribute to Queen Elizabeth 1st woman to cross U.S., Alice Huyler Ramsey, age 90, speaks at Catskill Region Antique Automobile Meet Anticipating 75th anniversary, Ford Motor Co. searches for 1903 Model A
