Tag Archives: Mimbolove1950s

1956 GMC NAPCO 4×4 Truck in NW Austin, Texas

Written by Ken Altes

1956 GMC truck in NW Austin, Texas, modified with Napco’s 4×4 Power-Pak system, installed to new trucks by the dealer in about three hours. It wasn’t until 1960 that Chevrolet/GMC offered their own 4×4 system.

I think this is the same truck at auction with a good history.

1956 GMC NAPCO 4x4 Truck in Austin TX 1956 GMC NAPCO 4x4 Truck in Austin TEXAS

1957 Cadillac Coupe de Ville in a Texas Field

Written by Ken Altes

I found this 1957 Cadillac Coupe de Ville in Lockhart, Texas, at Hot Rod Jim’s.

1957 Cadillac front1957 Cadillac Interior1957 Cadillac in field1957 Cadillac

Steve Wertheimer’s 1957 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

Written by Ken Altes

Steve Wertheimer is a central figure in Austin’s blues venues and custom car scene.  Long-time owner of the venerable Continental Club and C-Boy’s Heart & Soul club, both on historic S. Congress Ave.  Steve is also behind one of the country’s best custom car shows, the Lonestar Round Up.  His gorgeous Caddy is a mild custom: nosed and decked (emblems removed from the hood and trunk), shaved (door handles removed), lowered, and perhaps a lot more.  I photographed it at a Lonestar Round Up show.   Look for this car in an earlier post to see it before customization.

Controversially,  the 1957 Cadillac introduced a tubular X-frame without side rails to get a lower body and increased torsional strength.   Some thought it was unsafe and that “perimeter” frames were safer.

1956 Ford Customline Tudor Sedan in the Brush

Written by Ken Altes

Found this two-tone 1956 Ford Customline Tudor Sedan behind, way behind, a BMW mechanic’s garage in NW Austin. As a new car, it was advertised touting its “big jet-tube tail lights, big new wrap-around parking lights, extra-large windshield and King Size double-sealed brakes.” — All hyphenated!

1956 Ford Customline Tudor Sedan in Austin TX front1956 Ford Customline Tudor Sedan in Austin TX side view1956 Ford Customline Tudor Sedan in Austin TX rear