Autoblog

While Ford was first to market with the pickup-cum-car Ranchero, and El Camino has attained universal descriptor status, like Kleenex, it looks like Kaiser presaged the idea in 1954 with this one-off. Kaiser was one of many smaller independents that had yet to die off in the early 1950s. The independents were often more creative than the big three, pushing innovation with limited resources. This extra-special Special-based vehicle is sporting "Barris Kustom" badges on the B-Pillars, glossy light yellow paint on the flanks, and a iron-irrific Continental L-head 6 underhood. You may not be torching the wide whites off the Kelsey Hayes wires with the 118 horsepower, but it's definitely adequate, even on today's roads. Current bids stand at $7,300 for what looks like a driveable classic. It'd be an interesting vehicle to poke around at and uncover the provenance, and the story would be way more entertaining than "It came down the line in Arlington one day."

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

All that money, and it looks like a lowered Ford Courier with a nice paintjob -- from the side, anyway. This Silver Shad-amino (Shadero?) has just undergone a two-year restoration by Florida's Foreman Motors. It'd be just the thing out on the Estate, cruising the grounds surrounded by sumptuous leather and wool with the Spirit of Ecstasy up on the prow. We think it's great; it's not like these particular Rollers are rare cars, anyway. The duPont Registry, want ads for those with excess filthy lucre, has it listed at $49,000, or a dollar per accrued mile. It could be worse, at least the Silver Shadow has handsome, stately lines and the conversion appears to be high-quality. Imagine what a Camargue's blockier profile would do without its fast C-pillar. Although, that rakish rear window may make a nice Cam-a-Lanche. It'd likely beat the truck in fuel economy, too.

[Source: duPont Registry via Winding Road]

Click the GT350 for a high-res gallery from the Show and Shine show

The city of Ypsilanti Michigan has a long industrial history highlighted by the thousands of B-24 Liberator bombers cranked out during World War II. After the war, car-makers took over the production facilities in the area, many of which have since gone away, but more on that another time.

More recently, the city has gained some internet notoriety as the home of the most phallic building in the world, thanks to our water tower. A short distance from the tower is Riverside Park in Depot Town which during the spring and summer months is home to several car shows. The first event of the year is the Show and Shine put on by the Ypsi Area Street Rods club with proceeds from the event going to a variety of charities like Cystic fibrosis, Hospice and the Humane Society.

See more of what was at Show and Shine after the jump.