Automotive

Ford was a family effort

Bruce Diehl knows where it all started. "I always wanted a '40 Ford coupe. There was one in pieces in front of a mechanic's shop that I walked past every day on my way to school," he said.

Send me your 'I wish I still had it' car stories

One of my e-mail buddies, John McKay, and I share a lot of common ground, even though he's a Canadian and I'm a Kansas flatlander and we've never met face-to-face. John is a retired newspaper photojournalist and we both love shoebox Fords and Falcons.

This truck's not made for haulin'

Dear Tom and Ray:

Lark, family reunited

GARDEN PLAIN -- As a young husband working in the parts department at the Zoglmann Motor Co. in Wichita back in September of 1959, it was a memorable day when Kenneth Scheer sold his grandfather, William Hommerzheim, a brand new Studebaker.

Two plan four days of car-related events next year

Car is flat-lining despite efforts to jumpstart it

Dear Tom and Ray:

Car, motorcycle show planned for downtown

The BlackTop Nationals car, truck and motorcycle show will be in downtown Wichita next August, its backers announced Monday.

1931 Chevy hotrod finds a home

MARION -- "Bub" and Linda Lovelady were enjoying their morning coffee one morning back in 1996 when Linda noticed an old car for sale in Penny Power.

Car calendar (Oct. 31)

* Nov. 1: 30th annual Wichita Toy Run, line up begins at 10:30 a.m., Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Call 316-540-3510 or 316-519-5203 for more information.* Nov. 14: Cruisin for Food, meet at noon at Plaza West Shopping Center (Central & West St.), Cruise to Kansas Food Bank, 1919 E. Douglas, non-perishable food or cash donations. Call Ron at 316-522-6264 or Mike at 316-644-3302.

Where does all the oil go?

Dear Tom and Ray:

My wheels: Dan Robertson's 1953 Chevy

This car is steeped in history going clear back to the Civil War, isn't it?

A change of plans

We hate to disappoint Wheels readers, but there apparently was a misunderstanding about my being invited to take part in the October 18 tour of three major Wichita car collections.

Smith collection on display

Last Sunday a couple of hundred car lovers got to spend a dream day, traipsing through three of the most fantastic car collections in the area.

Shaky 1995 Jeep in need of work

Dear Tom and Ray:

Engine first, then body

NEWTON -- Steve Reid definitely didn't take the road most traveled when he set about building an early '30s highboy street rod.

Quick cross-country trek was for a good cause

1940 good year for Fords

"When I was running around Hutchinson, Kansas as a kid, it was first one kind of car after another," Doug Keener recalls of his growing-up days.

Click and Clack: Shocks might be bad

Dear Tom and Ray:

Getting together: Wichita on Wheels calendar

* Oct. 10: 20th annual Pontiac Uprising, Friday 6-9 p.m., Airport Hilton; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Kansas International Raceway. Call Tom at 316-788-0514.

Taking trip back in time

Newton -- Donovan Schmidt's story of his favorite car from his younger days is probably familiar to a lot of people. He had bought a brand new 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 2-door hardtop for $2,439 and enjoyed the stylish ride for years.