Woodie Wagon Day 2024 is on Friday, July 19, 2024: What are your thoughts on the Ford Pinto?

Friday, July 19, 2024 is Woodie Wagon Day 2024. Good Morning Open Thread: Woodie Wagon Day Edition Today is National Woodie Wagon

Historically, it was one of Detroit's early "import fighter" attempts. Kinda like the Vega was for Chevy. Toyota, Datsun (what Nissan was before it was Nissan), Volkwagen ...these were fuel conscious cars that were built soo much better than what Detroit was putting out at the time.

Unfortunately, like the Vega and many other Detroit small cars of the day, they left a *lot* to be desired.

The early Pintos (before they put the 5mph bumpers on them) were relatively attractive cars. The little 2-door "woodie" wagon was actually kinda cool. Unfortunately they, especially the 2-door hatchbacks, had a nasty habit of bursting into flames because the fuel tank would rupture in a rear end collision ...not good.

The 4cyl OHC engines were of English origin ...they where engines put in the likes of the Ford Cortina. Unfortunately England didn't have a great reputation for building high performance or even spritely 4cyl engines; the one in the Pinto was best used as a boat anchor. Even with a 5-speed tranny the thing was a stone.

Now time has a way of obscuring our memories and if you've found a Pinto ...especially one of the early ones ...then it would certainly be at least an interesting find. Like Vegas, you don't see many of them around anymore. With old classics beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

40's/50's Classic Hollywood & Cali surf wedding ideas?

Fireworks if the reception is in the evening.

It would be cool if you could find a woodie station wagon to rent for your departure.

Some surf boards around the reception would be great.

Use beach themed invitations like one of these:

Or even better you could create a Western Union telegram invitation since this was the way most people sent urgent messages in the 40's and 50's.

Cabanas are definitely something I think about when I think of retro beach/resort/americana...not sure how you could work those in but it would look great.

What is Route 66 famous for?

Absolute sadness and tragedy. Today we remember the fun stuff and the unique one-of -towns with the unique one -of -motels and restaurants that has unique one-of signs in front of them . I think that anybody driving down route 66 should listen to Woody Guthrie not Booby Troup and when they're in their hotel room in Tucumcari NM maybe they should read John Steinbecks The Grapes Of Wrath- maybe rent the movie too

Capitalism had failed and failed miserably and people lost everthing and then some.

So they did what Americans always do ; they took to the road in the hopes of finding a better life

The Great Depression was also a time of idealized outlaws in America and Woody wrote a song about one of them.

Pretty Boy Floyd by Woodie Guthrie

If you gather 'round me children

A story I will tell

"Bout Pretty Boy Floyd ,the outlaw

Oklahoma knew him well

It was in the town of Shawnee

On a Saturday afternoon

His beside him in a his wagon

As into town they rode

There a deputy sheriff approached him

In a manner rather rude

Using vulgar words of language

An' his wife she overheard

Then Pretty Boy grabbed a log chain

The deputy grabbed his gun

In in the fight that followed

He layed that deputy down

Then he took to the trees and timbers

And he lived a life of shame

Every crime in Oklahoma was added to his name

Yes, he took to the trees and timbers

On that Canadian River's shore

And Pretty Boy found a welcome

at many a farmers door

There's many a starving farmer

The same old story told

How this outlaw paid their mortgages

And saved their little home

Others tell you 'bout a stranger

That come to beg a meal

And undernath his napkin

Left a thousand dollar bill

It was in Oklahoma City

It was on a Christmas Day

A whole carload of groceries

With a letter that did say

You say that I'm an outlaw

You say that I'm a theif

Well here's a Christmas dinner

For your familes on relief

Now as through this world I ramble

I meet some funny men

Some will rob you with a six gun

And some with a fountain pen

But as through your life you travel

As through your life you roam

You won't never see an outlaw

Drive a family from their home