Raymond's Site

For everybody out there who has ever expressed disappointment at seeing an original six-volt vehicle “butchered” with a 12-volt conversion, feast your eyes on this 1947 Fargo FL2-33 for sale on Hemmings.com, a heavier-than-light-duty export version of Dodge’s pickup with pretty much every factory specification in place, including the one on voltage for its wiring system. From the seller’s description:

FL2-33 One Ton Truck. 228 ci 6 cylinder with Four Speed and PTO option. 6 volt positive ground. 133 inch wheelbase with Nine foot bed. Very Original and not a frame off restoration. Purchased from a collection in Michigan in 2011. Since have mechanically improved suspension, brakes, tires, electrical and cosmetics. Capable of 55 MPH but prefers 10 and is a parade and show winner and favorite. Less than 2000 were produced in ’42, ’46 and ’47 in 117″, 120″ and 133″ wheelbase models. Fewest produced were 9 foot beds in 133″ configuration.

We’ve taken a look at the Hansen Cobra before – specifically the one that’s not in the Petersen Automotive Museum – but with the recent re-opening of the museum, Jive-Bomber at The Jalopy Journal shared a few photos of the Hansen Cobra in the museum.

* Yes, articles on one-off or low-production homebuilt specials from the Fifties tend to come from Geoff Hacker, but he was busy this week putting together a gallery of all the vintage magazine covers that feature such cars, including the one above that didn’t pass the flight-of-fancy stage.

* Speaking of flights of fancy, Aaron Beck’s rendering of a slammed, fat-tired, Formula 1-ish murdered-out Model A almost seemed so off-the-wall that there’s no way it could become a reality. Almost, that is, except for James Schwartz, who went ahead and built a real-life version of the car using a scratchbuilt chassis and a Honda S2000’s running gear. Engine Swap Depot has the build pics.

* Volvo’s Venus Bilo may not have gone anywhere due to its unconventional aesthetics, but as Ronan Glon of Ran When Parked pointed out in his profile of the streamlined 1933 sedan, it remains significant due to its status as Volvo’s first concept car.

* Finally, it’s hard to imagine an airport without a bunch of rental car counters these days, but in the 1940s most people couldn’t imagine an airport with one. Except for Warren Avis, as this Automotive Hall of Fame profile on the rental car agency founder points out.