Vanderbilt Cup Races

Wow! Looks like an exciting event. I can’t get there in person so I hope you will give us all the details in an upcoming report.

From InstaGRAM Report: You don't want to miss the upcoming Retromobile New York at the Jacob Javits Center

This one is indeed a mystery. I can’t find anything about removable roof panels on a Thunderbird. I can say that it’s a ‘55 Ford Thunderbird. It is distinguished from the ‘56 by the front logo and the lack of ventilation doors behind the front wheels.

From Update Mystery Friday Foto #44 Somewhat Solved: A Unique 'T-Top' Concept

Thanks Al - I never noticed the signs at Jones Beach but makes sense. 
Mark - yes, I’m always amazed at what newspapers reported in years past,  especially on a local level.  Glad you enjoy reading my posts. 

Thanks to you both for your input. 

From Kleiner's Korner: July, 1926 Motor Parkway News

Nice research Art. I always enjoy reading old news stories. Not a fan of judges overturning jury convictions, as in the first article.

From Kleiner's Korner: July, 1926 Motor Parkway News

Here is the 1909 Christie recreation just completed this year after a 10 year effort by Jim Bartel in Detroit. I created all the drawings and casting patterns. Mario Andretti drove it last month a the M1 Concourse track in Michigan.

From Peter Helck Painting: "The match race that never happened"

Remove able roof
1955
Ford Thunderbirds 1956

From Update Mystery Friday Foto #44 Somewhat Solved: A Unique 'T-Top' Concept

Magazines like Mechanix Illustrated, among others, always printed wild visions of the future. How prophetic that in 1958 the cover proclaims, “How Poisoned Air Is Shortening Your Life.” and “Heat Your Home With Solar Energy.” Fast forward to the current era and these are everyday topics in one form or another (solar power for electricity vs. heating), climate crisis, etc. The car may have been dream but some things do come to fruition.

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: The Unusual 1958 'Sir Vival' Concept Car

Peter Helck created this painting for Henry Tredwell Jr in 1961, as a thank you to him for loaning all the rare Christie memorabilia that led to the first history of Christie published in the Upper Hudson Valley Automobilist back then. I have that archive, some of which help me create all the drawings needed for the 1909 Christie racer recreation, debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year.

From Peter Helck Painting: "The match race that never happened"

Barney Oldfield and Walter Christie did race against each other, in Detroit, 1909, see attached image.

From Peter Helck Painting: "The match race that never happened"

Beautiful painting! Enjoy!

From Peter Helck Painting: "The match race that never happened"

Huge fan here!
Love this feature.

From Peter Helck Painting: "The match race that never happened"

It wouldn’t be fair for me to guess but certainly looking forward to the answers!

From Update Mystery Friday Foto #44 Somewhat Solved: A Unique 'T-Top' Concept

Removable custom/experimental clear, transparent roof for use as a convertible
1957
1957 Ford Thunderbird
Possibly the designer of the car and his wife.

From Update Mystery Friday Foto #44 Somewhat Solved: A Unique 'T-Top' Concept

Rita’s brother of the Rita & Jerry Trapani couple. I once asked you how long it took to change a tire on one of those oldies like “The Beast”. The wonderful article is such a treasure trove, bringing history back to life!

From InstaGRAM Report: Peter Helck: Advertising and Art Part 1— Old 16

Hmmm… looks like T Tops? ????
The couple l can’t see clear enough to take an educated guess.
I’ll be at the Vanderbilt today for the Mustang- Thunderbird show, wouldn’t it be nice to see that Baby Bird there? ????
Enjoy your automotive Sunday!

From Update Mystery Friday Foto #44 Somewhat Solved: A Unique 'T-Top' Concept

Hmmm… looks like T Tops? ????
The couple l can’t see clear enough to take an educated guess.
I’ll be at the Vanderbilt today for the Mustang- Thunderbird show, wouldn’t it be nice to see that Baby Bird there? ????
Enjoy your automotive Sunday!

From Update Mystery Friday Foto #44 Somewhat Solved: A Unique 'T-Top' Concept

Hmmm… looks like T Tops? ????
The couple l can’t see clear enough to take an educated guess.
I’ll be at the Vanderbilt today for the Mustang- Thunderbird show, wouldn’t it be nice to see that Baby Bird there? ????
Enjoy your automotive Sunday!

From Update Mystery Friday Foto #44 Somewhat Solved: A Unique 'T-Top' Concept

Wonderful!  I have never seen that work by Peter Helck. I have his original painting of the Christie that was shown in the “Great Auto Races”.  He dedicated it to Henry Tredwell, grandson of one of Christie’s investors, if I recall correctly.

From Peter Helck Painting: "The match race that never happened"

I remember the signs on the boardwalk at Jones Beach, by the tables outside the food concessions: “No BASKET PARTIES In This Area.” I never heard anybody use that term to refer to a picnic. I guess they wanted people at the beach to buy the food at the concessions.

From Kleiner's Korner: July, 1926 Motor Parkway News

Congratulations to all who were able to identify this Strange Concept Car!
When I first came across this concept car I had to do a Blog on it on the American Torque Website.  Here is a link to my blog:  http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/4183/
Thank you Howard and Greg for making this your Mystery Foto #43.
I’ll have to try harder for another Mystery Car Foto.
Best Regards,
Mario Rojas

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: The Unusual 1958 'Sir Vival' Concept Car