What I Saw Today: The Gipsy Edition

This olelongrooffan did this post over at Hooniverse back during BikeWeek and I thought all y'all might enjoy it as well.



Welcome to Hooniverse Truck Thursday. I know this is Hooniverse Truck Thursday and I am confident my fellow Hoons are wondering what the hell this trailer has to do with that.

This post needs a bit of a setup so bear with this olelongrooffan. In May, 2008, I was laid off from my long held position in the construction industry and relocated to the Birthplace of Speed to be a bit nearer to my closest brother thejeepjunkie. Since then, I have been applying and applying for positions over the past four years but to no avail. I guess there is not much market in the Sunshine State for middle aged, middle managers with no experience other than 28 years of management in the construction industry. I have been surviving by doing mostly small remodels, diminishing my savings and using my blogging as a way to maintain some sense of sanity. I'm not quite sure if the latter has worked though.

Well, anyway, late last summer thejeepjunkie left his position with the company that supplies NASCAR their tires and went to work with a smallish Mom and Pop shop and has met with great success there, although the hot pit pass connection kind of went to the wayside for this season. Anyway, last fall he hooked me up with his bosses, the owners of The Car Shop, who were interested in having some sprucing up done around their place. After I had been working around there for a few weeks, Robin takes this olelongrooffan over to his place next door, bestpricetrailers.com, and relays to me some of the remodeling plans he has in mind. I related I could easily perform the tasks he set forth and even provided some upscale options for his office with which he fell in love.

So this olelongrooffan commenced to kicking construction butt at the trailer place and about two weeks into the project Robin offered me a real job being the lot boy selling trailers and responding to the ever growing number of email inquiries he has been receiving. It seems the two existing sales guys are overwhelmed by the ever increasing number of net inquiries and needed some additional assistance. Well needless to say, this olelongrooffan was extremely flattered and on Monday of this week I began training to sell trailers. As I had been around the place for a few months, I pretty much had some idea of what was going on and Quickbooks is well known to this olelongrooffan. So, on Tuesday morning upon arrival at work, my cool ass sales manager said, and I quote, "This training crap is bullshit. Starting now are selling, now go sell something."

Well my fellow Hoons, the image of the above trailer is the one I sold two hours later, to a rodeo clown, no less. Yes, the clown salesman joke has made the rounds.

Now, is this the gipsy referred to in the title of this post? Not even close.



Now one of the cool things about having a brother who is fairly well known and respected in the automotive repair business in what is really a small megopolis, plus the fact he drives a Michigan yellow 1946 CJ2A, is that he tends to attract some kind of cool stuff to his shop.

By that, I am not talking about that almost run of the mill Land Rover I spotted with fellow Hoon Jim Yu down in FantasyLand a couple years ago. No more of something like this



and my fellow Hoons can read the whole story here.

Or even something like this,



But my fellow Hoons will have to wait a bit until this olelongrooffan does a post about that Kissimmee Mecum purchased Corvette destined for upper PA.



Hell my fellow Hoons, I'm not even referring to this continuation Cobra a buddy of thejeepjunkies and mine brought around the week before the Rolex24.

No, one of the coolest Hoon sightings, among many, this olelongrooffan has seen around thejeepjunkie's place is this one.



Yeah, it's a Daimler Dart SP250 that I Hooned about here.

Well, on Wednesday as this olelongrooffan was headed out back to have a coke and a smoke in the service area of both The Car Shop and bestpricetrailers, I spotted the, almost, absolutely coolest vehicle I have seen in some time.



And, it is owned by the same dude who owns that Daimler SP 250. See that Austin A70 based 2199cc BMC motor?



Well my fellow Hoons, there is no way it powers a mere Austin A70.



No, it is under the hood of one of only 21,208 of these



Land Rover fighting military dueling machines ever produced.



And this olelongrooffan would love to the have the half cab version, such as this one is, of "The Charles Barrett Special."



Yes, Hoons, it is the Austin Gipsy. The first one was, appropriately, built on February 28, 1958 and the last one, a Gen IV model, was built ten years later. And that is thejeepjunkie's Michigan yellow 2A in the background of this image as well as his DD Ranger and one of several Panther's that seem to congregate around his shop.



Now this thing is as utilitarian as they come but it works. Clever compartments surrounding the rear fenders and minimalist decorations only serve to make this rare buggy more desireable.



Drew, the seasoned wrench around this shop approached me as I was gathering some images of it. "Austin Healey?" he queried. "No," this olelongrooffan responded with and set forth a bit of a disertation about the Austin Healey, Jenson Healey, Nash Healey, and Healey in general. DDrew, whose wrenching abilities have had the respect of this olelongrooffan since day one, looked at me and said, "You really know your shit, don't you?" And the only response this olelongrooffan could come up with was, "Yeah, BS is my middle name." We both had a chuckle over that but I am pretty sure the information I relayed to him about Healey's in general was correct. Having said that, I am confident I will see the need to correct something in the future about them.



So back to this buggy. The above image is of the inside of the driver's door. That chain operates the release for the door latch as well as serving as the pull to close the door.



But the thing that both Drew and fellow wrench George noticed was the independent rear suspension with components known as "Flexitor" containing rubber springs on the rear



and trailing arm suspension on the front. Just a note, in the trailer industry, I am told this is known as a torsion arm suspension. But what the hell does this olelongrooffan know? I am a total newbie in the industry. But certainly happy to be here.



Now, subsequent to gathering these images of a never previously seen by this olelongrooffan vehicle, I touched base with thejeepjunkie and he connected me with several sites pertaining to the Austin Gipsy. Of course, wikipedia and google, but also YouTube this, and the spelling is correct, and check out the ability of the Rover contesting light weight. I gathered the above image of the assembly line from a blog devoted entirely to this vehicle and this link should suffice as its credit. Be prepared to lose a hour or so there. The rest of the images in this post are originals from this olelongrooffan.



However, my fellow Hoons, as cool as this buggy is, remember it is British afterall and the only reaffirmation you will need of that is to check out the liquid seeping from the connection between the head and the block in the above grainy image.

But ya know what? I WANT IT!! BAD! And this olelongrooffan would venture that I am not the only Hoon with this case of want.

May This olelongrooffan Introduce The Newest YouTube Sensation? Jim Lee

This olelongrooffan has often blogged about my older brother affectionately, known as Bus-Plunge, and commented about the toy budget he has.



I asked him once how many cars he has owned in his lifetime and he said he would have to get back to me on that. A few months later we were talking and he mentioned that near as he could figure he has owned 160+ different vehicles over the years and still counting.



And yes, there were many of them that he asked himself until he was blue in the face, "Why Did I Sell That Car?"



Well Counters, it seems that this olelongrooffan was reading that book about my face and stumbled across a video from the tube that is you about one of my four favorite brothers.



It seems there is a dude in the Ozarks who drives around looking for cool old vehicles to video and share with his fellow youtubers. Kind of like this olelongrooffan, eh? Well, turns out one day he found the Bus-Plunge and now Big Jim is all viral and crap.

And that shows we Counters just another way to Celebrate Life.

What I Saw Today

So, Today, This olelongrooffan Was Out And About

just checking out some stuff I could post both here and in the Hooniverse about the whole Bike Week thing going on down here at the Home of the World's Most Famous Beach.

I came across a pretty cool exhibition of a bunch of old Harley Davidson and Indian motorcycles, the blog of which I have in draft form and will post in the next couple days.

I also spotted this pimped out 80's era GMC pickup that appears to this olelongrooffan to have had some pretty extensive modifications.

And as I was driving south on Beach Street in the toney riverfront area of the mainland part of Daytona Beach,

I spotted this ole rat rod that may or may not be to everyone's taste.

After I gathered up a few images of it, this olelongrooffan was walking south on Beach Street and noticed a not previously seen collectibles store but walked right by it.  A few paces down the street, I stopped and turned around to check it out.

I mean, I'm certainly not in the financial position to acquire any high dollar autographed collectibles but I thought I would at least see what was to be seen.

I opened the door to that rather smallish shop and recognized alot of people seemingly milling about. I was just checking out the framed stuff they had laying around and pretty much ignoring the crowd.

I then looked up and saw a whole bunch of buffed, youngish men adorning themselves in flak jackets and POLICE t-shirts.

Almost immediately one of these guys approached me asking "Hey, What's up?"

This olelongrooffan took another look at all of them and then looked back at that young man and inquired, "Am I in the wrong place?"

His response?  "Yes, you are."

"See ya."

And this olelongrooffan beat it the h*ll out of that shop and headed back to the Taj Mahal here in the Birthplace of Speed wondering what was going to transpire this afternoon down there in the World Center of Racing.

I'll keep those of you Counting Along With Me informed as I am confident somehow or another, this olelongrooffan will find out.

And knowing that I am miles from the action of that team of cops really lets this olelongrooffan

Celebrate Life.

What I Saw Today

In 1964, Sonny's Auto Sales affixed this sticker to the rear of a 1949 Crosley pickup truck. 46 years later, this olelongrooffan spotted it on that truck and here is the story.

In 1965, Rick Delvecchio was living on a farm just outside Vineland, New Jersey when his father gave this compact pickup truck to him for his 14th birthday.

And Rick has kept it to this day. Yesterday while this olelongrooffan was out and about, I saw this behind the RME Automotive building. Of course, you know I had to stop and get a couple images and the story, if I could.

While this olelongrooffan was examining this sweet, rare old beauty Rick came out back and we started chatting it up. I asked him if he was going to restore it. "Nope, just get it puttering around, paint my logo on the side and that's it," was his response. Mine? "Yeah, they're only original once." He gave me an approving grin and took this olelongrooffan into his shop and showed me the one engine, of the three Crosley engines he has, that he is going to install.
It turns out he acquired this motor back in 1983 shortly after moving to Daytona Beach. The man who gave it to him drove up in a Crosley wagon and told Rick the motor in that longroof was his but he had to come get it after the man drove back to New Symrna Beach. Well Rick did and he now, nearly 30 years later, has found the time to put it in his old pickup truck.

I asked why it had taken so long for him to get around to it. Well he took me into the front room of his establishment and pointed out four near concours level Alfa Romeos and his father's 1970 MG Midget, bought new by his dad. "I guess I had a few other things that had a higher priority," he commented. On the way back to the work area, he pointed out a couple other Alfas that were awaiting his attention and a bunch of parts for an original Fiat 500. He mentioned that the body shell was due back from the paint shop anytime now.

" I need to get moving on this Crosley or else it will be another 20 years before I get to it."

Good Luck Rick and I can't wait to share the completed projects with those of you Counting Along With Me.

And know a post about the shiny and not so shiny cars in the interior of that shop will be coming along shortly.

And finding cool old sh*t like this and meeting cool ole dudes such as Rick really allows this olelongrooffan to

Celebrate Life.

Personally Seen Vintage Door Art

So my brother, the Bus, now that the 2010 midterms are over, decided to get back to doing some blogs about trucks. He did one about a super cool robins egg blue one ton Chevy he rebodied a week or two ago. You Counters can check that blogpost out here and be sure to click on through for his history of it.

Then yesterday he provided us with a link to vintage door art. You can check that one out here. In that post, he provided we Busriders with the following image

and the link to where he found it.

Upon seeing those cool images of vintage door art, this olelongrooffan thought I would include a couple I have seen over the past couple of years.

I spotted this one somewhere in north central Florida (maybe Waldo?) during one of my On The Road adventures. I happened to be driving by a car lot and spotted it. That's what happens when you stay off the Eisenhour Highway System! The main reason it was recorded is the fact that Carthage, Mo is located less than 40 miles from Haven Lee Farm, Halltown Edition.
Now, the following one I got in between Marionville, Mo and Halltown, Mo during another On The Road trip this olelongrooffan took way back in 2008. I had spent another wonderful Day On The Farm with thehorsefarmer, thebarngoddess and their family. I was headed back to the Queen City of the Ozarks preparing to return to the Birthplace of Speed. I now forget the burg I was in but remember this old truck and its Vintage Door Art.

Incidentally horsefarmer, both of these trucks are Internationals!

And still, at this olelongrooffan's advance age, remembering these two moments in time, and having the Bus jog my memory of them, absolutely provides this olelongrooffan the ability to

Celebrate Life.

A Cool Old Truck

Bringing a whole new meaning to "single cab".

Thanks to Jesse for finding this and helping this olelongrooffan

Celebrate Life.

It Ain't A Longroof

Well Counters, thejeepjunkie, and just about everyone else, has been vetoing every new vehicle choice this olelongrooffan has been thinking about the last couple weeks.

Monday night at Happy Hour, this olelongrooffan brought up another and thejeepjunkie mentioned he has seen it and it was a "rust bucket."

Well Counters, this olelongrooffan journeyed down to once again check out this "rust bucket" and Tuesday evening I mentioned to thejeepjunkie that the driver's side floor is the worst part and the few other spots were easily repaired. I shared with him my rationale for purchasing an already rusty ride as this olelongrooffan lives beachside and everything is going to rust anyway.

He mentioned he approved of my prerusted opinion and approved my purchase of it.

Since this is my sixth vehicle in the past two years, before this olelongrooffan reveals thejeepjunkie approved purchase, let's review my daily drivers since I moved to The Birthplace of Speed.

I am certain you longtime Counters remember my 850 truckster wanna be.
And remember what happened after we unloaded that table thus transforming the 850 back into a passenger sedan.

And of course my oleragtop number 2 and evidence of its demise and subsequent removal.
And of course, the aptly named Casper, a moniker placed by the Kid.
And my, until now, current daily driver, my oleragtop 3. Yes this is the third E30 ragtop this olelongrooffan has owned over the years. I currently have a small deposit in hand for the sale of it but the dude hasn't picked it up as of yet. The proceeds of that sale will get me a new longroof.
And of course, my olestation bus now resting comfortably down on the Space Coast.
It was partially this incident happening down on the World's Most Famous Beach that prompted me to purchase this.
Yeah a Jeep!! Who the h*ll does this olelongrooffan think he is, thejeepjunkie?

Actually it's a great little truck. 1986 Jeep Comanche, 2.5 liter 4 cylinder, 5 speed, four wheel drive. And it is prerusted!

The first that this olelongrooffan did after picking it up was head over to the thejeepjunkie's shop and have them really check it out. I think they were dutifully impressed and I was offered a grand for it on the spot. I passed.

Then thejeepjunkie fired up that cutting torch and commenced to removing that after market roll bar. Because to this olelongrooffan, as well as thejeepjunkie, Stock Rocks.
So this olelongrooffan got "the Indian" home and today thejeepjunkie calls and mentioned he has a decent set of tires for it and to bring the Indian on down and we'll get it reshod.

And I did.
It's a nice little workhorse and if it is not abused, I'm going to try and put another 176,000 miles on it.

And if you Counters noticed that naked driver's side fender in the above image, you will know this olelongrooffan sometimes just has some dumb luck. Look at the third from the bottom item in the following image and you will know why.
Plus, I know where a parts truck is!
the Indian is actually the second MJ this olelongrooffan has owned. Back in the mid 90's I had a two wheel drive version of this. Like that one, the Indian has no air conditioning, hand crank windows and a safety bumper. It can be seen in the bottom image in the far back just over the head of the Kid.

At one point in my life, while still married, we had a black Limited that I just loved. I am fairly certain we traded it in in '97 for my daughter's mom's Honda Odyssey which she still drives!

Yeah, Jeep Cherokees were pretty popular in my family back then. This shot was taken on a family vacation in Highlands, North Carolina. My sister's Cherokee sport in front, followed by TheGentlemanFarmer's Cherokee in the rocking chair position and driven to this day by the Bus's son, NotSoLilJim, and my Limited bringing up the rear.
That MJ I was referring to earlier can be seen in this shot.
Now Counters, just know that having another MJ in my possession, and especially one with four wheel drive, plus the fact I only paid 8 Benjamins for it really lets this olelongrooffan

Celebrate Life.