Kris’ 1939 Plymouth Business Coupe in N. Dallas

Written by Ken Altes

At this trip to Home Depot, this was the oldest, and coolest, thing there. Kris bought the finished car from a S. Texas fellow. Powered by a 318 Mopar V8. This car looks even better the closer you  get to it. Love the stance, the rarity, the paint and the Cragars.

1948 Triumph 1800 Roadster at Ron Shimek’s Specialty Garage, Austin

Written by Ken Altes

Although it doesn’t look like it, this is a post WWII design, with an aluminum body and tubular frame. Its Standard engine’s typical flat head was modified by Harry Weslake and shared with Jaguar (his Weslake Ford V8s won Le Mans powering the seminal GT40s in the mid to late 1960s). The Triumph 1800 Roadster was the last production car with a Dickey seat (rumble seat with it’s own windscreen). It has a top speed of about 75 mph, and a four speed transmission.

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Old School, Hopped-Up 1950 Mercury Coupe in Austin

Written by Ken Altes

This most desirable 1950 Mercury Coupe retains it’s flathead V8 but has vintage performance parts on it.  An absolute treasure, one of my favorite Austin cars.  Mercury Charlie has since moved to SW Austin. 

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1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe Project in SW Austin, Texas

Written by Ken Altes

I took this cool project in SW Austin at a shared facility occupied by the late Bill Collings and Mercury Charlie — I believe it was Bill’s project.  It’s the only car I’ve seen in a hot rod garage on barrels like this. The red sign and the red wheels make it a favorite image of mine.  Mercury Charlie has move since to a nearby location.

Hot Rod at Mercury Charlie in Austin TX