Fender Skirts

[terriphill]

I came across this phrase recently, "FENDER SKIRTS".

A term I haven't heard in a long time and thinking about "fender skirts" started me thinking about other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice like "curb feelers" and "steering knobs." (AKA) suicide knob

Kids will probably have to find some elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to them.
Remember "Continental kits?"
They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.

When did we quit calling them "emergency brakes?" At some point "parking brake" became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with "emergency brake."

I'm sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the "foot feed."

Did you ever wait at the street for your daddy to come home, so you could ride the "running board" up to the house?

I also miss riding with my friends on a summer day in the back of the pick-up truck.

 

[Steve_S]

Before "emergency brake" it was "hand brake". I also never hear "station wagon" anymore.

Do people say something other than "pick-up truck" these days?

 

[Camshaft]

I still use "station wagon" unless I use "stawag." I hold a secret hope they will return to favor with the motoring public.

 

[Basil]

Fender Skirts like on my 50 Daimler:

 

[Camshaft]

Pretty... :shocked:

 

[Basil]

I came across this phrase recently, "FENDER SKIRTS".

Remember curb feelers?

 

[Steve_S]

I still use "station wagon" unless I use "stawag." I hold a secret hope they will return to favor with the motoring public.

It's already happening. Old station wagons are the latest fad. They're starting to bring in fairly high prices. Who would have thunk it?

 

[Guest]

Fender Skirts = Spats, on an LBC.

Recently my wife overheard a kindergartener at our Catholic school talking about how cool her grandpa's truck was. It had <span style="font-weight: bold">little handles</span> that you could use to roll the windows down with.

Remember when you could instantly identify every new model of American car, even knew which engine option it had by looking at the trim package.

Who amongst us (over 60 crowd) couldn't instantly recognize that that '62 Bel Air Bubble Top cruising down the boulevard was a real sleeper with a 409/409 sucking through a Carter.

 

[Guest]

Remember the scene in <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-size: 14pt">two-lane blacktop</span></span>
when they were circling the drive-in restaurant; they could tell you the displacement and horsepower of every musclecar parked at the joint from 20 feet away, while rolling.

 

[NutmegCT]

Terriphill - I got that "fender skirts" email too. Brings back lots of memories!

Tom

 

[toysrrus]

Hi Folks,

I recall placing a thd. here in regards to "Spats" for a TR3; Sometime ago!

A friend of mine has a `60 TR3 and is looking for a "Set of Spats": Should there be anyone out there selling or know where to get a set; Please PM me or whatever.

Thanx,

Russ

PS: Nice looking "Spats" Basil. They remind me of my `57XK140 Rdstr. I had with "Spats" and big fat whitewalls!

 

[Bret]

Recently my wife overheard a kindergartener at our Catholic school talking about how cool her grandpa's truck was. It had <span style="font-weight: bold">little handles</span> that you could use to roll the windows down with.

Yup, my 8 year old daughter said the same thing about my MG to her friends when she was in pre-school.

But all of my kids still get a kick out of the “old” analog clocks in my older cars.

 

[Twosheds]

Ahhh, Nostalgia.

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

Why, I remember when nostalgia was really great.

O.K., I'll stop now.

 

[anthony7777]

terriphil, on a job id been doing i just found a set of "curb feelers" in an original perfectly preserved box never opened, memories just flooded forth. gave them to a "hot rod" friend of mine he freaked. -- dual antennas anyone?

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Wheel covers: Spinners, Dog Dishes, Baby Moons

Blue-dot tail light lenses

Spotlights

Visor on the windshield

Trumpet exhaust pipes; lake pipes; cutouts

And on, and on...

Good ole J.C. Whitney!

 

[Basil]

When did they stop making vent windows?

 

[Bret]

A couple of my other favorites "Bumper Bullets" & "wing vents or wing windows"...

Opps? Basil beat me to it. I don't think there was an actual "Date" when wing window vents went away. Personally I think they are one of the best features on my 78 B. But I want to say that they started going away in the late 60's, and I seem to remember that was one of the ways to tell the differences between the 67 & 68 Camaro - 67's had'em 68's didnt.

I remember them on my 67 Barracuda and loved'em!

 

[prometalshop]

Hi Folks
OK that's scary I must be an old timer now because all of these terms are used in my shop. Just last week I was asked me to make a set of skirts for a customers Desoto.
Being a hot rod sheet metal fab shop I see these fads come in and out every decade....did I say decade, some how I thought it would be easier on me then 10 years.
My shop name has been Steve's Pro Street for thirty years,
that was before pro-street meant rear half mods and big tires and motors.
About 12 years ago the Pro-touring twist was added, what changed? tire and wheel style and a new generation that needed a different name.
But curb feelers, running boards, skirts , spots, chopped , nosed and decked. will mean just what they did back in the 50's to now. :thumbsup:

 

[Guest]

Shooting brake is still one of my favourite terms for a type of car. Not sure why, I just like the way it sounds...

 

[Steve]

My neighbour across the street has a PT Cruiser, with a Continental kit! It was a demo, and so the dealer had dressed it up somewhat. He is very proud of it! I had asked him if it actually held the spare wheel, this freeing up space in the car. He said "no". I then asked if you could put things in it, and again, "no". It is there for cosmetic purposes only.