Photo Thread for Unusual Vehicles

1780721877732.webp

1968 English Ford Cortina GT
 
Steering wheel on the left wrong side
The only decent picture I could find on the internet quickly last night. They were manufactured in the UK by Ford Motor Company and imported here for a few years. My oldest brother bought one just like this brand new (except for color) when he came home from serving in Viet Nam. We had it in the family for years, I used it as my car during high school. It was really fun to drive. The GT version came factory with a 4 on the floor, a "cross flow" head design, factory headers and a two barrel Weber carburetor. As I said, it was a lot of fun to run around in. The one we owned had the steering wheel on the "proper" side however! LOL!
 
Seen in a storage lot. IDK what would possess someone to own such a monstrosity. I don't think the nostalgia is worth the maintenance and likely poor fuel economy.

One issue with campers is the caulking in the roof seems fails and lets water in. Was this thing re-caulked every few years over the past, IDK 5+ decades? Could be a mold mobile which requires complete interior removal and decontamination.

Old Camper.webp



The Vehicle: 1965–1966 Streamline Travel Home​

While Streamline is famous for making silver, aircraft-grade aluminum travel trailers (similar to Airstream or Silver Streak), they briefly dabbled in motorized RVs.

  • The Design: The gold/yellow stripe running down the side is Streamline's signature factory aesthetic. They built these out of heavy-gauge riveted aluminum panels. The "Private Coach" and "Streamline Travel Home" badges are completely original factory script.

  • The Rarity: These front-engine Class A motorhomes were only produced for a couple of years (roughly 1965 to 1967) and were built in incredibly small numbers—likely fewer than 100 ever existed, and only a handful survive today.

  • The Historic Pivot: In 1966/1967, a man named L.K. Newell bought out the "Travel Home" motorized division from the Streamline Trailer Company. He moved the operations to Oklahoma and began building them under his own name. This exact model of motorhome is the missing link that started Newell Coach, which is today one of the most famous and expensive ultra-luxury multi-million-dollar motorcoach brands in the world.
 
Seen in a storage lot. IDK what would possess someone to own such a monstrosity. I don't think the nostalgia is worth the maintenance and likely poor fuel economy.

One issue with campers is the caulking in the roof seems fails and lets water in. Was this thing re-caulked every few years over the past, IDK 5+ decades? Could be a mold mobile which requires complete interior removal and decontamination.

View attachment 341408


The Vehicle: 1965–1966 Streamline Travel Home​

While Streamline is famous for making silver, aircraft-grade aluminum travel trailers (similar to Airstream or Silver Streak), they briefly dabbled in motorized RVs.

  • The Design: The gold/yellow stripe running down the side is Streamline's signature factory aesthetic. They built these out of heavy-gauge riveted aluminum panels. The "Private Coach" and "Streamline Travel Home" badges are completely original factory script.

  • The Rarity: These front-engine Class A motorhomes were only produced for a couple of years (roughly 1965 to 1967) and were built in incredibly small numbers—likely fewer than 100 ever existed, and only a handful survive today.

  • The Historic Pivot: In 1966/1967, a man named L.K. Newell bought out the "Travel Home" motorized division from the Streamline Trailer Company. He moved the operations to Oklahoma and began building them under his own name. This exact model of motorhome is the missing link that started Newell Coach, which is today one of the most famous and expensive ultra-luxury multi-million-dollar motorcoach brands in the world.
Looks like they stole the front grille off of an old Ford pickup.
 
I looked a little closer @Pablo, if you look right above the wiper blade closely, you will see the steering wheel on proper side, this car was built to be sold in the USA.
Exactly what I said.

I said it's on the left.

What was written was this "1968 English Ford Cortina GT"

Now I know he meant built in England, but I was pulling his chain a bit. Hence my word wrong for the UK.
 
Exactly what I said.

I said it's on the left.

What was written was this "1968 English Ford Cortina GT"

Now I know he meant built in England, but I was pulling his chain a bit. Hence my word wrong for the UK.
I didn't catch that you said"left side to begin with, my fault. We used to order some parts for it from a car parts magazine that no longer exists originally called "Warshawsky" then later changed to "JC Whitney". They were based out of Chicago. In the part listings they labeled it as an "English Ford".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JC_Whitney?utm_source=copilot.com
 
I didn't catch that you said"left side to begin with, my fault. We used to order some parts for it from a car parts magazine that no longer exists originally called "Warshawsky" then later changed to "JC Whitney". They were based out of Chicago. In the part listings they labeled it as an "English Ford".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JC_Whitney?utm_source=copilot.com
J.C, Whitney was swallowed by Car Parts.com and the cool catalog and neato stuff disappeared. I was shopping for a BMW transmission cooler thermostat and Car Parts had one laser engraved with the J.C. Whitney name on it. I passed since I was shopping for a modern BMW, not an old Jeep, Model T, Nash, or Hillman.
 
I didn't catch that you said"left side to begin with, my fault. We used to order some parts for it from a car parts magazine that no longer exists originally called "Warshawsky" then later changed to "JC Whitney". They were based out of Chicago. In the part listings they labeled it as an "English Ford".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JC_Whitney?utm_source=copilot.com
I think we all loved looking at that catalog, but even back then knew it was kinda junky stuff. Man I miss those days.
 
Looking at catalogs has been replaced with scrolling down and swiping left these days.

If I had a dollar for everytime I got yelled at for looking at mail order catalogs when I should have been doing something else... When I was about 12 years old I spent my allowance on a book of stamps and requested most every catalog advertised in the back of a Field and Stream and Guitar Player magazine. I got on so many mailing lists. Different times.
 
I saw a few of these driving around in Greece, a good amount of dirt roads and hilly terrain in the rural areas:


This is a Lada Niva, likely a 1990s model based on the alloy wheels and overall condition.

  • Soviet-designed compact 4x4 developed by AvtoVAZ and launched in 1977
  • Designed specifically for Soviet rural terrain, capable of crossing rivers, deep mud, and snow
  • Permanent 4WD with a locking center differential, not selectable, always in 4WD unlike most competitors
  • Simple rugged mechanicals mean extremely cheap to maintain and repair anywhere in the world with basic tools
  • Became surprisingly popular in Western Europe, South America, and the Middle East due to off-road capability at a budget price
  • The short wheelbase 3-door version is the most iconic, a 5-door long wheelbase version launched in 1993
  • Cult following globally, owners describe it as nearly indestructible with proper maintenance despite crude interior
  • Production: Launched 1977 and still in production today, nearly 50 years continuous production making it one of the longest running unchanged vehicles in history

Engine options:
  • Original 1.6L carbureted inline-4 making about 75hp
  • 1.7L fuel injected version introduced later
  • Diesel variants offered in some markets, Peugeot diesel engine in some European versions
  • Turbocharged versions were offered experimentally but never mass produced

GR Lada.webp
 
Seen in a storage lot. IDK what would possess someone to own such a monstrosity. I don't think the nostalgia is worth the maintenance and likely poor fuel economy.

One issue with campers is the caulking in the roof seems fails and lets water in. Was this thing re-caulked every few years over the past, IDK 5+ decades? Could be a mold mobile which requires complete interior removal and decontamination.

View attachment 341408


The Vehicle: 1965–1966 Streamline Travel Home​

While Streamline is famous for making silver, aircraft-grade aluminum travel trailers (similar to Airstream or Silver Streak), they briefly dabbled in motorized RVs.

  • The Design: The gold/yellow stripe running down the side is Streamline's signature factory aesthetic. They built these out of heavy-gauge riveted aluminum panels. The "Private Coach" and "Streamline Travel Home" badges are completely original factory script.

  • The Rarity: These front-engine Class A motorhomes were only produced for a couple of years (roughly 1965 to 1967) and were built in incredibly small numbers—likely fewer than 100 ever existed, and only a handful survive today.

  • The Historic Pivot: In 1966/1967, a man named L.K. Newell bought out the "Travel Home" motorized division from the Streamline Trailer Company. He moved the operations to Oklahoma and began building them under his own name. This exact model of motorhome is the missing link that started Newell Coach, which is today one of the most famous and expensive ultra-luxury multi-million-dollar motorcoach brands in the world.
That thing is so ugly that its beautiful. I love the nostalgia look and always wonder why people rebuilt school buses instead of a classic like this. But it would need a heart transplant, a full gutting and new interior, and every one of those little seams re-sealed. Maybe I answered my question.
 
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