Read on Twitter
A grateful Veteran's Day salute to all who have served in our armed forces from #DavesCarIDService
Today I'll be revisiting some of my favorite photo requests featuring military veterans and their cars. If you have family album photo of a veteran (especially in uniform) with a mysterious vehicle, make sure to use the #DavesCarIDService hashtag and I'll get to it on the double.
Let's start off with these smilin' swabbies, mustering around an apparently dangerous 1941 Oldsmobile. https://twitter.com/dtsjr/status/1200573675382214656
*License plate indicates date it is either 1952 or 53. California 1951 plates had "California" center bottom, surrounded by "19" and "51"; the next 2 years was simply a little metal "52" or "53" tag to cover over the "51."
Granddad had swagger to spare with his 1937 Ford sedan. https://twitter.com/Back2Ryan/status/1326516755091640322
Grandpa at attention, ready to say farewell to his 1930-31 Ford Model A sedan. https://twitter.com/wespratt95/status/1216153599559913472
Fantastic pic here. Thank you and Semper Fi to these two Leathernecks leaning on a 1941 Plymouth coupe. https://twitter.com/Time4TheRoad/status/1261679057256640515
This former flyboy enjoyed peacetime racing in his jalopy, composed of:
narrowed/bobbed Ford Model A frame rails
Ford Model A or B motor, Winfield intake & split exhaust
K-H wires rear, Ford 16" steel front
32 Ford roadster body w/ 34 Ford rear deck https://twitter.com/SteverinoC/status/1185748809705574407
narrowed/bobbed Ford Model A frame rails
Ford Model A or B motor, Winfield intake & split exhaust
K-H wires rear, Ford 16" steel front
32 Ford roadster body w/ 34 Ford rear deck https://twitter.com/SteverinoC/status/1185748809705574407
Here's hot rod racing Don C again, a few years later, with a pair of Fords. He's sitting in a 1927 Ford Model T phaeton, and in the background is a circa 1930 Ford Trimotor (aka "Tin Goose") https://twitter.com/SteverinoC/status/1185752448872394752
As a side note, the hot rod world was hugely influenced by the return of WW2 vets who honed their mechanical and metal fabrication skills in the military, particularly the Army Air Corps / Air Force.
Case in point: Alex Xydias, B-17 bomber flight engineer and gunner who went on to found the legendary So-Cal Speed Shop. Still tearing it up at the age of 98.
*The body of the So-Cal lakester is a war surplus P-38 fighter plane reserve fuel tank, quite a peace dividend for hot rodders. There were many postwar P38/P51 "belly tank" cars, and credit goes to Bill Burke who came up with the idea while a Marine at Guadalcanal.
Hats off to this Devil Dog and his 1951 Mercury woody wagon. The 1st Marine Division saw some of the bloodiest fights in the Pacific Theater of WW2, including Guadalcanal, Pelelui, and Okinawa. https://twitter.com/therallyking/status/1199700558954868736
This serviceman in Japan is riding one of the toughest ID request I've ever gotten - a very rare circa 1955 Cabton 500 or 600 RTS. Despite the Britishy sounding name, it is thoroughly Japanese. https://twitter.com/JoeBar79/status/1262043682922016768
*"Cabton" is an acronym for "Come And Buy To Osaka Nagagawa."
PFC Granddad is rightfully proud of his 1954 Ford Crestline convertible, for which he ordered the optional deluxe bumper guard. 1954 was the first year of the Ford Y Block OHV V8, which replaced Ford's legendary 1932-53 flathead V8. https://twitter.com/politicalmath/status/1307394743949619200
Dad's looking fresh from the base barber shop and ready to wow the frauleins on this tough ID challenge. Best I can tell it's a ca. 1950 Puch 125 T "twingle," tho the tank emblem doesn't seem to fit; perhaps a CZ Jawa twingle of the same era. https://twitter.com/shiftzz/status/1264617457802764295
*a "twingle" or split single engine has 2 cylinders, but the pistons move in tandem with each other, rather than phased. As always, I welcome correction from anyone who can provide a definite ID.
Another fantastic photo, and obviously a WW2 era Jeep, either a Willys MB or Ford GPW; perhaps a Jeep aficionado can nail down which. https://twitter.com/KingsThursday/status/1326522940951851008
Yessir, the car in the background is a 1928-29 Ford Model A Tudor, and thanks for the great pic. https://twitter.com/CarrawayWilliam/status/1177348187201445888
This sailor's homecoming features a 1937 Plymouth sedan. https://twitter.com/glenn_wall/status/1239699805145833472
Update: the mystery motorcycle above can now be conclusively ID'd as a ca. 1950 Victoria KR 25 Aero. Despite the British name these were made in Germany. Thanks to "Darkfors" for putting me on the right track. https://twitter.com/Darkfors/status/1326557291206807553
Great photo here, but probably not war spoils. Car is a 1936 Plymouth, which I'm pretty sure were not in wide use by the Axis. https://twitter.com/capsncubs/status/1200820252550057984
This Vietnam-era Marine had a very fine 1966 Chevy Corvette convertible, with its removable hardtop attached for winter. https://twitter.com/asillyplace/status/1261749949299077121
Another obvious Jeep MB or GPW, but how about this amazing picture? https://twitter.com/ahoyfromnc/status/1326568333660082177
It's smiles all around for this sailor, with a 1941 Ford in the background. https://twitter.com/CotnerMD/status/1326561144685944832
Happy birthday in advance and thank you to Dad, here with a 1946-48 Plymouth Special Deluxe sedan. https://twitter.com/karl_nittinger/status/1326562588495392770
hmmmmm. Side trim strongly suggest 1954 Lincoln Capri but A-pillar doesn't jibe. May need an assist on this one. https://twitter.com/E_G_Doherty/status/1326565189811118082
Aha! Give that man a kewpie doll, and I apologize for my uncharacteristic car ID brain freeze. https://twitter.com/EBMgoneWILD/status/1326583827574173697
As photo is dated October 1959, don't know if it was *right* before shipping out to 'Nam, but still a great photo. After careful deliberation, I am moderately confident that Dad & his greaser buddies scooped the loop in a 1941 Packard 110 sedan. https://twitter.com/JamesJe69383550/status/1326569879173025793
This'd be a circa 1939 Simca 5, the French edition of the Fiat Topolino. Tiny foreign cars have been a source of amusement and fascination for generations of GIs serving abroad. https://twitter.com/TbrdDog/status/1326571126714208256
another Jeep MB / GPW with a fascinating background from my pal Victory Gin. I'm assuming during the North Africa campaign? https://twitter.com/DrinkVictory/status/1326592204509376513
Thanks to the hi-res scan, I can tell you the car in the faaaar distance is either a 1941 Pontiac or 1941 Cadillac. What's amazing here is the 3-wheeled battleship, which isn't any amphibious craft I'm aware of. Maybe something for parades? https://twitter.com/gloverjames71/status/1326583049220452353
Amazing pic, but I'm afraid I'm out of my element when it comes to Axis aircraft. Any of you plane experts willing to give it a shot? https://twitter.com/wcbrown45/status/1326590397062197253
I am well and truly stumped by great photo, and it is by no means a standard issue US staff car; and no American car I'm aware of. I suspect a local car requisitioned after VE Day, with hints of BMW 335 or Benz W136. https://twitter.com/AlexSP226/status/1326580666348277760
Sending out the Euro car bat signal to @Harry_Bergeron for help here.
Army and Navy together in this fantastic shot. Sedan in the distance is a bit fuzzy for a certain ID, but I suspect 1928-31 Ford Model A. https://twitter.com/ItsBrettFromLA/status/1326602026705252352
Wow, what a swell pic of Grandma & Grandpa. Their chili & Coca-Cola spree along the Embarcadero took place in a 1936 Chevy. https://twitter.com/MetaOrwell/status/1326575169863737344
I truly wish I could do this all day, but have to call an end. In closing, a sincere thank you to all who have served in America's armed forces. Happy motoring!
