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History Came across this old add, never seen one back in the day

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by upspirate, Jun 12, 2023.

  1. upspirate
    Joined: Apr 15, 2012
    Posts: 2,303

    upspirate
    Member

  2. williebill
    Joined: Mar 1, 2004
    Posts: 3,486

    williebill
    Member

    Never saw them when I was growing up in the 60s, but I bought an NOS set off of Autotrader maybe 30 years ago. Not to use, just to have sitting on a shelf of cool stuff in my ba*****t. Also have a pair of cast br*** fins that mimic early Cad fins, and use Caddy taillights, that I bought for the same reason.
     
  3. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,514

    Squablow
    Member

    There was a pair of these on a 1950ish Dodge sedan in a guy's back yard, they had dug out a bunch of old cars out of the woods and were selling them. I wanted those fins, just to hang on the wall, but they didn't want to sell parts, only whole cars, and that car had nothing else good on it so I had to p***. They looked just as awkward as they do in that ad. Not something I'd want to actually run on a car, but something I'd love to have just to display.
     
  4. sidevalve8ba
    Joined: Jun 16, 2009
    Posts: 2,612

    sidevalve8ba
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I seem to remember something like that in an old J. C. Whitney catalog.
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2023
  5. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,991

    5window
    Member

    Very cool. I wonder what the price was back then
     
  6. Joe Blow
    Joined: Oct 29, 2016
    Posts: 1,863

    Joe Blow
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    Think they were about 5 fins back then.
     
  7. AVater
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,483

    AVater
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    Love this line: “Adjustable for perfect fit”. I guess that depends upon who does the adjusting.
    At least it doesn’t say: “Installs in minutes”.
    Thank you for sharing!
     
    Boneyard51, upspirate and X38 like this.
  8. Whole lotta schlock sold back in the day.
     
  9. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,779

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Here's another bolt on restyling kit for Chevy, Pontiac or Olds. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
  10. RMONTY
    Joined: Jan 7, 2016
    Posts: 2,663

    RMONTY
    Member

    ^^^^ Solid br***....wonder what those would cost in today's market!?

    Eastern Auto.......wonder if that is Western Auto's cousin?
     
  11. Max Gearhead
    Joined: Oct 16, 2002
    Posts: 7,855

    Max Gearhead
    Member
    from Wisconsin

  12. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,779

    HOTRODPRIMER
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    Seems there was more than one company trying to cash in on the tail fin craze.

    [​IMG]

    And this man has a set on his car. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Stan Back
    Joined: Mar 9, 2007
    Posts: 2,723

    Stan Back
    Member
    from California

    . . . and kept the originals.
     
    upspirate likes this.
  14. Dan Timberlake
    Joined: Apr 28, 2010
    Posts: 1,578

    Dan Timberlake
    Member

    Studebaker Hawks 1957 - 1961 had some beauties.
     
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  15. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,514

    Squablow
    Member

    I have some Jem brand bolt-on fins that are supposed to make a 49-52 Chevy car look like a Cadillac, but they were smaller and had an all-chrome housing so you wouldn't have to paint them to match. They look really tacked on compared to the Finliner ones, which at least integrate into the fenders a bit more and got color matched.

    That's a great pic above, the car's got all of the accessory bumper guards and flipper full wheel covers on it too.
     
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  16. ClarkH
    Joined: Jul 21, 2010
    Posts: 1,571

    ClarkH
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    Not to mention the cool Phillips oil truck in background. :D
     
    alanp561, Squablow and 41 GMC K-18 like this.
  17. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,980

    squirrel
    Member

    yeah

    [​IMG]
     
    Boneyard51, Deuces, Sancho and 8 others like this.
  18. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,346

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    A bit more t******* and figuring out how to finish off the tail section.

    DSCF0230.JPG
     
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  19. 210superair
    Joined: Jun 23, 2020
    Posts: 2,153

    210superair
    Member
    from Michigan

    Ha, and people laugh at kids and their spoilers!
     
  20. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,980

    squirrel
    Member

    clearer picture....it's from 1958 catalog, btw

    114.jpg
     
    Deuces, Sancho, upspirate and 5 others like this.
  21. rustydusty
    Joined: Apr 19, 2010
    Posts: 2,512

    rustydusty
    Member

    “Man oh man” that would make my car look like a million bucks!
     
  22. ClarkH
    Joined: Jul 21, 2010
    Posts: 1,571

    ClarkH
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Forget the fins, I want the "Impala-type" rear fender trim!

    Screenshot 2023-06-12 at 1.18.50 PM.png

    If you look close, they couldn't even get it aligned properly in the illustration. Now that's authentic.
     
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  23. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,514

    Squablow
    Member

    Sure it's crooked, but it "carries out the sculpturamic theme" and that's what's really important.
     
  24. 210superair
    Joined: Jun 23, 2020
    Posts: 2,153

    210superair
    Member
    from Michigan

    Really does remind me of today. Lit up vent lights. Kids today are throwing lights under their cars. Goes to show ya, it's in the blood! Lol
     
    Boneyard51, upspirate and 41 GMC K-18 like this.
  25. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 5,802

    gene-koning
    Member

    J C Whitney had so much cool... um... Stuff, yea, stuff, back in the day...
     
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  26. upspirate
    Joined: Apr 15, 2012
    Posts: 2,303

    upspirate
    Member

    I kind of like the Cad tail lights for the Chevy
     
  27. United Marine was not far from my old neighborhood, and it was right across the street from Swope Park. Definitely not an industrial area, more like a commercial building in a residential neighborhood. Weird.
     
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  28. KingArthursKnight
    Joined: Apr 17, 2023
    Posts: 112

    KingArthursKnight
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'm going to try to use "sculpturamic theme" in a conversation sometime this year. Impress all my friends. in low places.
     
    Squablow, upspirate and rod1 like this.
  29. egads
    Joined: Aug 23, 2011
    Posts: 1,430

    egads
    Member

  30. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,980

    squirrel
    Member

    the picture

    lights.jpg
     
    upspirate, jimmy six and Deuces like this.

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