Various Topics That I/We May Sometimes Need Help With

[sr71plt]

And nothing spells Windex as well as a glob of gander crap on a windshield.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Thanks a lot!

I also asked around and was told that a car would have to be sold or maintained a lot, before lasting 15 years.

Here is my lady:

She graduated college - in 1955 - that is when she got the car. The year is now 1970, she's worked for 15 years, starting out in the High School education system, before moving up to teach small insignificant classes at a University. So now the year is 1970.

She lives alone, and is 40 years old. She still has the car her parents gave her and yes still drives it.

I do like the idea of her maintaining it, storing it, and bringing it out when the weather is nice. She'd have enough income to buy her own vehicle, so I can pick a newer one for her "all the time" driving, but that special one from dad and mom needs to fit the bill of practical.

Opinions on a 1955 Ford Fairlane? The cost was approx. 1945.00
Or a '53 Chevy Corvette - approx. 3500.00 - this is two years prior to her graduating and would have been purchased from a "VIP" waiting list. So perhaps he bought it for himself and then gave it to her as a gift . . .hmm.

 

[lance gt]

Thanks a lot!

I also asked around and was told that a car would have to be sold or maintained a lot, before lasting 15 years.

Here is my lady:

She graduated college - in 1955 - that is when she got the car. The year is now 1970, she's worked for 15 years, starting out in the High School education system, before moving up to teach small insignificant classes at a University. So now the year is 1970.

She lives alone, and is 40 years old. She still has the car her parents gave her and yes still drives it.

I do like the idea of her maintaining it, storing it, and bringing it out when the weather is nice. She'd have enough income to buy her own vehicle, so I can pick a newer one for her "all the time" driving, but that special one from dad and mom needs to fit the bill of practical.

Opinions on a 1955 Ford Fairlane? The cost was approx. 1945.00
Or a '53 Chevy Corvette - approx. 3500.00 - this is two years prior to her graduating and would have been purchased from a "VIP" waiting list. So perhaps he bought it for himself and then gave it to her as a gift . . .hmm.

Consider that the average wage was about .65 per hr. back then, so even $2000 is a fair stretch for Joe Avg. If your Dad is an exec., he could very well have a company car that's got some goodies. New position and and a new car to go with it and gives daughter a gift of his old one. Dad has heart attack or something and his old car is all she really has left. Reason to store and then bring it out on his anniversary.
Wait, this is your story. Anyway, this gives you freedom to choose anything you want because of the company car option. Death is never wanted, but it makes the car more sentimental.
Again, just another option.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Consider that the average wage was about .65 per hr. back then, so even $2000 is a fair stretch for Joe Avg. If your Dad is an exec., he could very well have a company car that's got some goodies. New position and and a new car to go with it and gives daughter a gift of his old one. Dad has heart attack or something and his old car is all she really has left. Reason to store and then bring it out on his anniversary.
Wait, this is your story. Anyway, this gives you freedom to choose anything you want because of the company car option. Death is never wanted, but it makes the car more sentimental.
Again, just another option.

I appreciate the ideas. It's going to be a really good story and with the help everyone is offering, and the suggestions given, I know it will turn out great. I love different angles and takes on a story, especially if all others know is that it is a woman, with a car, and the car is old and the time is not 2012.

 

[oggbashan]

If it was a cheap car in 1955, anything under 5 years old would be possibly too expensive. A pre-war car would still be usable, with parts easily available.

If it was a volume model from a major manufacturer then it would still be possible to get parts 15 years later, particularly for a Ford V8.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

If it was a cheap car in 1955, anything under 5 years old would be possibly too expensive. A pre-war car would still be usable, with parts easily available.

If it was a volume model from a major manufacturer then it would still be possible to get parts 15 years later, particularly for a Ford V8.

Thanks, and cheap is good, especially if I don't use the dead dad, corporate angle.

I really appreciate everyone's help!

Thank you!

 

[SixtyMinuteMan]

I know I'm coming in pretty late, but have a peek at the Studebaker Hawks. Their model year debut was '56, but they actually started selling in the fall of '55. If you're looking for a nostalgic angle, the company was all gone by fifteen years later. Could definitely provide a wistful, remembering-those-lost-days kind of vibe. And they're pretty cool cars, to boot. I'd probably look at the Sky Hawk, which was the middle name in the line.

Chevy's economical model in '55 was the 150. Their entire car line was limited to the 150, the 210, and the Bel Air, which are basically different levels of trim and finish. If cost was an option, it would have been the 150, and that could even provide you with a cute(ish) tie in to the folks buying themselves a Bel Air at around the same time. And, for what it's worth, Bel Airs and 210s especially are extremely sought-after classics today, they're really quite good looking.

Ford: Same concept. Three cars, nearly identical structurally, separated by trim. The Mainline was their basic model. The Fairlane you mentioned is an interesting possibility, not least because your readers would probably have a visual image of one, but they were definitely upscale. The Mainline would be like giving her a Focus; the Fairlane would be more like a Crown Vic.

'55 was the year Dodge tried the La Femme, a car aimed at women. It came with coordinated accessories, a lot of lavender and purple paint and upholstery, etc.

Okay, I'm going to stop now. Can you tell I'm a car guy?

Edit: Okay, one more, especially if you decide on a car that's a couple years old. The Nash-Healey. The first post-war American sports car.

Now I'm done. *Resists urge to start talking about European cars. Barely.*

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I know I'm coming in pretty late, but have a peek at the Studebaker Hawks. Their model year debut was '56, but they actually started selling in the fall of '55. If you're looking for a nostalgic angle, the company was all gone by fifteen years later. Could definitely provide a wistful, remembering-those-lost-days kind of vibe. And they're pretty cool cars, to boot. I'd probably look at the Sky Hawk, which was the middle name in the line.

Chevy's economical model in '55 was the 150. Their entire car line was limited to the 150, the 210, and the Bel Air, which are basically different levels of trim and finish. If cost was an option, it would have been the 150, and that could even provide you with a cute(ish) tie in to the folks buying themselves a Bel Air at around the same time. And, for what it's worth, Bel Airs and 210s especially are extremely sought-after classics today, they're really quite good looking.

Ford: Same concept. Three cars, nearly identical structurally, separated by trim. The Mainline was their basic model. The Fairlane you mentioned is an interesting possibility, not least because your readers would probably have a visual image of one, but they were definitely upscale. The Mainline would be like giving her a Focus; the Fairlane would be more like a Crown Vic.

'55 was the year Dodge tried the La Femme, a car aimed at women. It came with coordinated accessories, a lot of lavender and purple paint and upholstery, etc.

Okay, I'm going to stop now. Can you tell I'm a car guy?

Edit: Okay, one more, especially if you decide on a car that's a couple years old. The Nash-Healey. The first post-war American sports car.

Now I'm done. *Resists urge to start talking about European cars. Barely.*

Thanks! And you're not too late to the game at all. Because of all the great suggestions, I'm going to be working more of a car angle than I realized. So I'm starting with a fresh sheet of script when I get the chance.

The Nash was one of the first cars I thought of when the thread was started, and I believe it's been mentioned a few times already.

 

[SixtyMinuteMan]

Thanks! And you're not too late to the game at all. Because of all the great suggestions, I'm going to be working more of a car angle than I realized. So I'm starting with a fresh sheet of script when I get the chance.

The Nash was one of the first cars I thought of when the thread was started, and I believe it's been mentioned a few times already.

Yeah, I saw Nash mentioned. Do take a peek at my link, though. The Nash-Healey is quite different from a Nash. It's the product of a partnership between Nash and Donald Healey, of Austin-Healey, Jensen-Healey, and MG fame. Very pretty, very singular.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Yeah, I saw Nash mentioned. Do take a peek at my link, though. The Nash-Healey is quite different from a Nash. It's the product of a partnership between Nash and Donald Healey, of Austin-Healey, Jensen-Healey, and MG fame. Very pretty, very singular.

I did, it is a very pretty car. Many of these suggestions are very good and I just may have to somehow make this more about the car than the couple. lol

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

In 1955 you gave your kid a used Plymouth or Chevy or Ford vintage 1947-1950. Business Coupes were very cheap and plentiful. Maybe a Studebaker convertible, vintage 1947-1951.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

In 1955 you gave your kid a used Plymouth or Chevy or Ford vintage 1947-1950. Business Coupes were very cheap and plentiful. Maybe a Studebaker convertible, vintage 1947-1951.

Thanks. I see a garage in my story all of a sudden.

 

[MelissaRoberts]

I don't care how many posts you have. Your threads are boring.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Thanks. I see a garage in my story all of a sudden.

Guys drove hot wheels in those days: 41 Fords, 49 Fords, 49 Olds. Chevys didnt have V8 motors till 1955 but Fords did, so did Merc's, and Olds Coupes. Cadillacs and Buicks were lead-sleds and unpopular. Packards were your mom's car. Geezer assholes drove Ramblers and Hudsons and Henry J's and Kaisers.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Guys drove hot wheels in those days: 41 Fords, 49 Fords, 49 Olds. Chevys didnt have V8 motors till 1955 but Fords did, so did Merc's, and Olds Coupes. Cadillacs and Buicks were lead-sleds and unpopular. Packards were your mom's car. Geezer assholes drove Ramblers and Hudsons and Henry J's and Kaisers.

Well, if it is a car her dad had, then it'll be an older car, not a fun hot wheels car. If given to her maybe a little more sporty.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Well, if it is a car her dad had, then it'll be an older car, not a fun hot wheels car. If given to her maybe a little more sporty.

If you want cheap and sporty, give her a Jeepster.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

If you want cheap and sporty, give her a Jeepster.

I think she should own every last car on the market. lol

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I think she should own every last car on the market. lol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys-Overland_Jeepster

JEEPSTER 1948-1950

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys-Overland_Jeepster

JEEPSTER 1948-1950

That does look fun.

 

[Boxlicker101]

How about a Nash Rambler, which was economical to buy, to run and to insure?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_Rambler

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Another vote for the Studebaker. My grandparents gave my parents one in 1950 and my dad drove it until about 1964. Wore out two engines, if I remember correctly. Then in 1953, the Hawk, came out.


http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/1volupturary_manque/imagesqtbnANd9GcRs0uMj5emmhyzvWiO_saI8fNYsOenfVxGKOqAo7Y5ppG9hoNV4Zw.jpg


If she's an only child, a two door would have been a fine family car and if things were going well for the family they could have given the family car to their proud new graduate and bought a Buick or something just a touch more upscale. And you have to admit, even fifty-five years later, it's a flash set of wheels!

 

[R. Richard]

If the lady wanted an automatic, then a Ford or Chevy would be the obvious choice. The base models were cheap, reasonably reliable and also cheap to buy gas or tires for. Power brakes were an option and would be convenient for a lady. Over quite a few years, the Chevy or Ford would also be cheap to install a rebuilt engine. The lady could get service done on the car anywhere.
A Volkswagon would be cheap to buy, the cheapest to buy gas for and the cheapest to buy tires for. A '55 VW would be a stick shift. No power brakes needed on the lightweight VW. However, the VW was a two door.

 

[R. Richard]

Guys drove hot wheels in those days: 41 Fords, 49 Fords, 49 Olds. Chevys didnt have V8 motors till 1955 but Fords did, so did Merc's, and Olds Coupes. Cadillacs and Buicks were lead-sleds and unpopular. Packards were your mom's car. Geezer assholes drove Ramblers and Hudsons and Henry J's and Kaisers.

The Hudson Hornet was a very hot car, up until 1952. The big, dual carb six was very fast, partucilarly the X7 version.

 

[jomar]

Pontiac, Plymouth, Chevy, nash/rambler has been mentioned, others...

Do a google image search for 1950s cars and see what fits her personality and the story.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Yes, I'm looking at photos and such and appreciating all the feedback and feel free to keep offering more. Even if I don't use all of it (which honestly I couldn't), if others wonder about cars from this era sometime, you can toss them this way.