Hotrod Road Show

This was posted by our friend “BRENTHENRY1989“. Check out his YouTube channel here.

This very nice ’56 Ford Club Sedan with a very big Airstream trailer in tow was filmed at the Fleetwood Country Cruize in London, Ontario Canada. Don’t try that with a modern car, because it will likely cause suspension and drive train problems. Old school rules. Back then you could even put your car to work and let it earn its owns keep. Now with modern cars we need pickup trucks or SUV’s to even get any utility, i think the only real modern car that could handle a load the best would be the Ford Crown Victoria/ Mercury Grand Marquis/ Lincoln Town Car, basically the panther platform is about as strong as it gets with modern cars, since it still use’s the body on frame design, and basic V8 rear wheel drive layout, the same vary layout every “good full size pickup truck” uses,

This was posted by our friend “BRENTHENRY1989“. Check out his YouTube channel here.

This was filmed Saturday June 7, 2009 at the Fleetwood Country Cruize in London, Ontario Canada.
Overall, a very rare car, and in quite fine shape. By the time this car was built Studebaker and Packard were out of money, and basically the car was just changed by grafting on fins and head light pods, and other minor body mods to give it a new look. The company was out of cash and was heading for is own demise. Packard was known as one of “Three P’s” of American motordom royalty which were: Pierce-Arrow and Peerless, and of course Packard. They would be the last of the three to die.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/

from: Bill Krzastek (Saint’s Volvo) from last year at the Fleetwood Country Cruize-in, Canada.
” I have another car that I will be bringing: this one is the actual “Mannix” Dodge Dart GTS convertible that was used in the “Mannix” TV series from 1968-1970. The car was modified for the show by George Barris, himself! I’m finishing it up and will have it there. Here are a few photos.
Best Regards,
Bill Krzastek”
This car is THE 1968 Dodge Dart GTS convertible that was used from 1968 until 1970 in the popular CBS Television series “MANNIX” starring Mike Connors and Gail Fisher.
The history of this particular car is most interesting. “Mannix” debuted in 1967 and the lead character, Joe Mannix, worked for a private detective firm called INTERTECH. However, Joe Mannix tended solve cases his own way rather than follow the company rules. During the first season, Mannix drove an Oldsmobile Toronado customized by George Barris.

The show, though popular with fans, wasn’t quite the success that CBS had wanted and rumors of cancellation circulated. Luckily, “Mannix” had a guardian angel in the form of Lucille Ball whose company Desilu produced the series. She liked the show and she liked Mike Connors enough to persuade CBS to give the series another chance. CBS agreed and the producers decided to revamp the show. It is this revised form with Joe Mannix now working out his own office with his secretary, Peggy, that the show went on to great success.

It was also decided that the Toronado would be replaced as Joe Mannix’s mode of transport as it was thought to be too “flashy” for a Private Investigator. In it’s place, Chrysler Corporation provided a red 1968 Dodge Dart GTS convertible. Bruce Geller, the producer of “Mannix”, was a car guy and liked the GTS but thought that the color red was again “too flashy” for a detective.
Mr. Geller again called on “The King of the Kustomizers”, George Barris, to work his magic on the GTS. Mr. Barris repainted the car dark green, modified the grille to accept Lucas Flamethrower lamps, added “tunnel port” scoops to the hood, reshaped the rear of the car with a flaired spoiler, modified the taillights and decklid trim, and added Rader mag wheels and a racing mirror for a little added pizzazz.
Mr. Geller was quite pleased with the car and it was used for the next two seasons of “Mannix”. Chrysler Corporation was also pleased with the attention the GTS received and supplied the series with a 1969 GTS which was also modified by Mr. Barris. At this time, the 1968 car was updated with Cragar wheels and the racing mirror was replaced with the original remote unit.
Contrary to published reports, both cars were equipped with the 340 engine. This can be quite clearly seen in the episode when the hood is raised (and the original red engine compartment is shown!).
After series duty, the car was sold into private hands and fell into obscurity. It was found in the early 1980’s in a California forest under a Ranger’s lookout tower in very poor condition.
Restoration began in the late 1990’s and is continuing.