Bill Semenuk   Annapolis, MD   

Haile’s Parade Car               

I graduated in June 1965 and promptly sought to find “real wheels” as opposed to the “loaners” my Dad had saddled me with.   My “dream car” was a 1960 Dodge Polara 500 convertible – White with blue interior and every option available.  I had seen one delivered to Mrs. Fletcher and it made my heart throb.

The “new” car that I could “afford” was a Coronet 440 convertible with blue interior, 225 slant six and 3 on the tree. So I promptly “ordered” it.   Whether it was really ordered or not has been subject to debate over the years, as my Father was the local Dodge-Plymouth dealer. I was under “pressure” to like the new Charger, but I flat-out didn’t like the styling. 

One evening in August my Dad brings home a “Bright Red” Coronet 500 convertible with white vinyl buckets. My mother and Uncle decided that those “chastity seats” were just the right thing, and being under considerable pressure to “like” it – I eventually reluctantly did.

When the car arrived it was pre-announcement, and the lure of driving it prior to announcement day was too much for me.  It was serial 0009 in that VIN series and came equipped with Plymouth covers since the Coronet Wheel covers had not arrived yet.  I was soon to discover that the rain troughs were missing too, as evidenced by the 4 inches of water in the rear seat wells whenever it rained.  I always wondered what else didn’t make the build.

I added a CB, towing hitch, and an FM tuner, as Dodge did not offer one on the Coronet series. My mother insisted on seat belts in the rear OR I couldn’t drive “her” Grandchildren in the back seat with the top down!  The car should have been a chick magnet but in those days it was hard to compete with the TRI-power Goats. especially with a puny 318

Later in the year I transferred to Ethiopia, and the car came with me. It arrived in the port city of Massawa on a 128 degree Fahrenheit day. Opening the window vents resulted in a hot blast like that of an open oven door.  It climbed the 7500-foot mountain to Asmara effortlessly. Once there I modified it again with Fog lights so that I could negotiate the mountains in nightly fog. (Even though we were not allowed to travel after dark because of “bandits” and rebel freedom fighters.)  The last modification was sheet steel over the gas tank so that I could travel “at-speed” (60 mph) on the all gravel “highways”.

I took the car as far North and West as Keren, and as far south as Bahar Dar and to Tissibet (Blue Nile Falls) crossing the 10,000-foot Simien Mountains.  I never bothered to install the “high altitude” jets that my dad had thoughtfully ordered for me.

One day while at work, I was “summoned” to the Provost Marshal’s Office without explanation. I was introduced to the tallest Amhara I had ever seen, Grasmach Andem, the Ethiopian Minister of Transportation, who wanted to “buy” my car.  It was not an option to refuse, but I could at least cover my $ 2961 costs.  I believe they paid me in Ethiopian dollars, AND provided me with a pristine Land Rover until I could locate a replacement car.

 Three days later the car had been painted by the local Italian Garage with 3 coats of black paint and it was used as Haile Salassie’s parade car when he made his annual visit to Asmara (and the Kagnew Station Dental Clinic to work on his teeth).

When we withdrew from Asmara in 1971 I learned that “Haile’s Parade Car” was replaced with a white Mercedes convertible and my red car was given to the Fire Chief of Asmara. 

When Eritrea and Asmara gained their independence from Ethiopia I lost track of the car.  It could have been trucked to Addis Ababa before the rebels arrived, OR, it could have become “booty” for Eritrea.

In 2006 I located an identical 1966 Coronet 500 convertible in Lance Creek Wyoming and put a muffler and master cylinder in it and showed it at the Washington D.C.  Trolley Museum show last year.  I have additional “work” to do, but she is a faithful reminder of earlier days. She originated in Springfield Missouri and arrived in Casper passing through 3 owners, when a local Casper buyer found it at an auction.  It then passed to a friend in Wheatland Wyoming, was sold to another colorful Wheatland resident, and then arrived at the barn of a MOPAR lover in Lance Creek Wyoming, where I fell in love with it (reluctantly again). I trucked it here and did the minimum to return it to original shape. 

The car is a 1931 CM-6 business coupe ( no rumble seat ) with a six cylinder L head engine. It was originally purchased in Milwaukee, WI by a young couple, who sold it to a resort owner in Eagle River, WI, after they started a family and needed a bigger car. (They took it each year to Eagle River for vacation)  A school teacher from Rhinelander, WI bought it from the resort owner and restored it. I bought it from his wife after he passed on. I have restore it twice. It has seen many parades and charity functions and used annually by the local Chrysler Dealer for promotions. It is very dependable and a joy to drive. 1931 was a great year for Chrysler.

I purchased my car new and have over 357,000 miles on the original engine.  It is my daily driver.  This picture was taken in 2005 however this car looks as good today as when the picture was taken.   Currently, I am restoring a 1977 Chrysler Cordoba Crown T-top and have struggled to find parts for it.  It seems very few people are interested in saving this car.  I can?t tell you how many of these cars have gone to the wrecking yard and were immediately crushed or sent to a demolition derby.  

Jerry Cowens
Louisville, KY

I purchased it in July 2005 from a lady (actually a preacher's wife) in Georgia.  She told me the car was originally sold in Georgia and that it had been there its entire life.  However, she didn't have any paperwork, etc. exept for a bill of sale dated 1996 in Summerville, GA.  The VIN number on the car is only 10 digits and I haven't had any luck in running it down to confirm the history.
 
It has a 225 slant six engine, single barrel carburetor.  The only things I had to do to it so far is have matching seat belts installed in the rear seats, replace all rubber engine mountings (dry rot) and have the carburetor replaced.  I do have a set of hubcaps I'm trying to restore...need to get those Corvette hubcaps off. 
 

 Sandy Edelstein, Palm Springs, CA.

This DeSoto Fireflite was purchased on February 19, 1960 by George Petricek at Marshall & Clampett Motors on Figueroa Street in Los Angeles and George promptly named it "Desi".  As this was George's first new car, he vowed to pamper and cherish it for as long as he lived.  Being a man of his word, George kept his Yuma Yellow dream car garaged and lovingly tended to for 40 years until his death at the age of 92 in 2000.  Even though he had stopped driving about 5 years earlier, neighbors would frequently see him cleaning and waxing his pride and joy.

When the car was sold in 2000 out of George's estate, it had just over 40,000 original miles.  Today the car not only has only 41,562 ORIGINAL miles, it also wears its original paint, chrome and interior.  The original antenna adjustment instruction tag still hangs from under the dashboard and the original jack instructions are still inside the trunk!  The car is ALL ORIGINAL!  And we intend to keep it that way - just as George would have wanted

 1951 Chrysler Windsor sedan in almost mint condition.

This is my first classic car....I'm pretty proud of her.

Thanks.

Roe Lepore

Arturo Newberger , Buenos Aires,  Argentina

John Testa, Watertown, CT.

She is aka "Edna" which I have owned since 1992.  She has just undergone a 2 year restoration and is almost as good as new.
 

I have lusted after a '56 Chrysler Convertible since I saw them in the Showroom floor at the local Chrysler Dealer.I was 17 at the time.
 I have owned  the Windsor, # W5637289 since Sept. of 1981, It is the 250 HP version with dual exhaust and a 4 barrel carburetor. I have heard that about 1050  Windsor Convertibles were produced.
  I bought it in Suffield, Conn. and drove it to Florida. Afterwards, it was off the road for about 17 years, having everything  done to it, that you can do on the frame . [ Some things just take time ] I can honestly say that there is no part of this car that has not been worked on.
 It is a Driver, I take it out about once a week.

John Baker ,Malabar Fl. 

My last project was a 54 Desoto Wagon.I bought it with no Engine or Transmission. It now has a 440 with Torqueflight and a 323 Positration rear that Came out of a rusted down Plymouth Road runner.It has 4 wheel disc brakes. I tried to retain a stock appearance. I still have to do the wood inside the cargo area.

Thord och Carina Liljekvist, Floda, Sweden

We got the opportunity to buy this the top of the line 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer 2-d HT in Tri-tone Heather rose, Jewell black and Sapphire white just recently. It's loaded with most options in the book, equipped with the 270 Super Red Ram Hemi, 2-speed PowerFlite, power steering and power brakes, Spinner wheel covers, Dual outside mirrors, Solex tinded glass, electric clock and Town and Country radio. The Custom medallions on the front fenders tell it's a late series built 27th July 1955.  The car was imported from Arizona to Sweden in the late 80s and was restored and have been and running in Sweden since 1990.

Gary Wiegand         , 

Pittsburgh           PA

1970 AAA Challenger T/A

Pittsburgh           PA 

1970 AAR Cuda  

Dan & Jenny  King,  Tulsa, OK 

1948 Dodge D24 Deluxe sedan. 

I've had the car since 1987 and kept original parts wherever possible.  It still has the flathead six, fluid drive, oil bath air cleaner, etc.   The photos were taken in 2007 at Tulsa's unveiling of the "buried
Plymouth" event at the open car show.

1962 Chrysler Newport                       

361 cid V8 2 bbl carb 265 HP (4 bbl had 295 HP). I have owned this car since 1977. This is one of my favorite cars even though it's a 4 door sedan. I think the car's front is just as brutal as any 300 or other Chrysler Product. Except perhaps my '60 DeSoto front (lol).    This car was a gift to me from a good friend and former WPC Club member. He knew the car would get a good home, would be taken good care of, and that I would not sell it. The car is totally original except for a new layer of paint. The red inserts are of course my idea. The car has only 96K miles on it today. The original interior is also in very good condition with no cracks or tears.