Well this sure changed a lot. Yep, I got rid of most everything. Currently of my own personal sevens I have an expanded movie section, a start on a technology section (favorite Cars), and a glimmer of what I want in the animal section, and I'm stil pondering a vegetable and mineral section. Seeing how much room the movie Section along takes, I'm sure I will be dividing the page up.
Technology
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1. Seven Wonder Cars (okay, my favorites)
2. Seven Planes (coming)
3. Seven Pistols (just the names so far)
4. Seven Rifles (coming)
5 submachine guns (coming)
6. Seven Military Combat Vehicles (coming)
7 Seven Oddities (coming)
1. The 1923 Model T
The 1923 model T Ford is the ultimate hot rod. The first model Ts appeared in 1908. It was the the first asembly line production car in the world It was also the car/truck that built America.
My favoirte year is the 1923 T. The car it self was extremely versatile being used as everything from a delivery hack to family car.
Ford Depot Hack
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1923 "T Bucket" Hotrod
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2. Willy's MB Jeep
Probably the second most important vehicle ever to be made after the Tin Lizzy. Versatile and revolutionary, neither a car nor a truck. It's what every Sport Utility thrives to be but can never really acheive. Even today's "Jeeps" fail to live up to the reputation of this little wonder vehicle that helped win World War II. The Jeep was initially designed by Bantam, but the contract went to Willys. Because of the need for thousands of Jeeps for the war, the vehicle was also made by Ford according to the Willy's specifications and used the Willys "Go Devil" four cylinder engine.
SAS Jeep in the Sahara
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Willys MB with Trailer
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3. The Duesenberg SJ
It isn't often that a car will inspire a word to be added to the dictionary
but this is the case with the Duesenberg and the original meaning to the
phrase "It's a Dusey" meaning one of the best you can have. The fact that
a luxury car such as the Duesenberg could actually survive the Depression
is in itself a testament to the fine automobile.
The Duesenberg was manufactured in Indianapolis Indiana, and as such
were also built for speed. In fact Duseys won several Indy 500s as well
as international races against famed European race cars. The 1934 Dusey
had a "production speed" topping 120 mph, making it the fastest production
car on the road. It attained this speed using a 32 valve supercharged
straight eight dual overhead cam engine. Most of these innovations were unheard
of in 1934. It came in number of body styles, all of which were custom ordered
from the Duesenberg factory. The cost for a Dusey was around $24,000.
It is in my mind, the absolute best car ever made-bar none.
Duesey SJ (1931)
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The "S" in SJ is for "Supercharged"
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4. 1932 Chevrolet
Most people are enthralled by the "duece coup" of American Grafitti fame. The 1932 Ford is an awsome car, even if it is painted a cross between "piss yellow and puke green". But for me the 1932 Chevrolet is just a classy car and when compared to a stock 1932 Ford was the better buy for your money. The straight six "Blue Flame" was also a better engine, outlasting the flat head by many,many years
1932 Cabrolet
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1932 Phaeton
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5. BMW Isetta
Das Rollende Ei (The Rolling Egg).
This little economy car was made by BMW of Germany. BMW was struggling after World War II. It made great motorcycles and excellent automobiles, but the autos were too expensive for most of the economically strapped Europenas. The car was initially made in Italy by a scooter compay called Iso. they sold the right to make it to other car companies and the little Isetta saved BMW. running on a 298 cc one cylinder BMW motorcycle engine the little two seater managed a top speed of 53 miles per hour, if you had a death wish. It has a 3.4 gallon gas tank and gets about 63 miles to the gallon. It carries two passengers but some four seat models were made.
Most actually have four wheels the two in back are close together. however you can find some three wheel models. these were made for England where the three wheel version allowed it to be licensed as a motorcycle!
(Yes, it is the Steve Urkel car)
Isetta with front door open
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The Rolling Egg
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6. Schwimmwagen (Amphibious Volkswagen)
Schwimmwagen
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Schwimmwagen
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7. 1959 Chevrolet (Impala)
The only American car that is of post World War II production that made it in my top 7! The 1957 is probably the most famous of any Chevrolet and it is a fine machine. If you ask most people what is the greatest muscle car, the argument would probably be Pontiac's GTO or the Dodge Charger. for me, however, the '59 Impala was "MUSCLE" before Muscle existed. Long, low, mean. Obviously, you need to toss in the
315 hp, Tri-power 348 V-8 instead of the 235 hp Blue flame straight 6.
Impala, two door hardtop
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Ragtop muscle
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Honorable mention
NSU Kettenkraftrad
Klienes Kettenkraftrad
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Small Tracked, Motorcycle
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Not the best, not the most famous. Just pistols that I find interesting, or more importantly, a work of art as well as a wonderment of fire-arms technology. I know many people are going to ask where is the Glock 17 or the M1911 Colt 45, or Walther's P38? How did I ever pass up the Browning HP35. Well, I guess it's like this. I'm not trying to recommend a hand gun for personal protection. I'm looking at handguns that contributed to some advance in technology or just simply are an artisitc masterpiece.
1. C-96 Mauser (Broomhandle)
Just about everyone who admires weapons is going to have a favorite automatic pistol. This one is mine. It came in a few different calibers. The most common was the 7.63mm Mauser. Mauser also came up with the 9mm Mauser, later parabellum which is probably the most common pistol caliber in the world. Some of these pistols were even chambered to fire the 45 ACP. bullet. The pistol was only adopted in small quanities in Germany but later was adopted in some Middle Eastern countries and China as a military sidearm. The big draw was the holdster which double as a shoulder stock.
In 1932, the German government came up with a full automatic version with a 20 round detachable box magazine. while totally impractle as a fully automatic pistol, it was used by German Police and later the Gestapo, and the Chinese Army.
2. Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver
3. W. Bailes Over/Under Flintlock
I have a weakness for the flintlocks. Today, a factory will turn out hundreds or thousands of similar firearms but in the 16th-18th century, it was often a craftsman turning out one or two weapons in a day or perhaps a month. Their weapons had a peronal touch and each one combined fahsion, design, and function to create a lethal work of art. Yes, indeed some gunsmiths had factories and turned out hundred of close to identical weapons to outfit a nation's military but the same places would also produce individual pieces.
W. Bailes was one of London's best known Firearms maker. The pistol below was fully functional presentation piece. That is, it was custom made for an individual. The pistol was fully operational but obviusly it was not meant to be used in combat.
Of note are the rotating barrels. The operator would fire the first shot, rotate the barrels and fire the second shot. While other people made multiple barrel pistols, it is rare to find such a feature in a presentation piece with ornate carvings and an ivory butt.
4. Colt Peacemaker
5. Deringer (Derringer)
The remington Derringer may not have been the first "Deringer" but it's the best known and probably the best. Henry Deringer had a fit when other companies serted marketing a pistol named after him. He called his small pocket pistol a Deringer and like Xerox and Klennex later, his name bacame synominous with the product and afterward any pocket pistol became a Derringer. Remington added an "r" out in an effort to say their pistol wasn't a "deringer.
Remington made a handy little double barrel .41 caliber pocket punch. The pistol fires a rimfire cartridge and fires the rounds individually. the derringer was a personal protection pistol and is mostly assoicated with riverboat gamblers and "business" ladies. I have a feeling a lot of other people carried them as well.
6. Tula Flintlock
Designed by Ivan Lyalin Circa 1790.
Another one of kind.
7.Medici Rotating Flintlock
another oddity dating from 1680.
Unique three barrel design made by Lorezoni. The barrels would be turned into place and fired. Again the pistol has ivory grips which suggest it was made for a rich customer.
Honorable Mention
Bunney Muff Pistol
