USED CAR ADS—ROAD AND TRACK 1949-1950 PART 2

YESTERDAY THIS BEGAN WITH digging into used car ads in what used to be called Road and Track. Several neat cars surfaced, including a Speedway/Sprint car and another offered by a guy named John Bond (before he added the R. and became the magazine’s Technical Editor). Today in Part 2, we see an Alpine Rally winner, a prototype for sale, a perfectly logical swap, back issues of the fledgeling magazine, and word of a mysterious “the copy”.

Jaguar SS-100 3 1/2 Litre Competition 2-Seater: “Winner of the 1948 Alpine Rally. Recently overhauled. Complete tool kit and extra tires. Best offer over $2300.” 

Research suggests the Alpine rallyist was Britisher Ian Appleyard. Wikipedia recounts, “Despite stopping to help an injured rival, he met all the targeted times and was awarded his first Coupe des Alpes.” Later, “At the wheel of an XK120 and with his wife Patricia ‘Pat’ Lyons, the daughter of Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons, as his co-driver, Appleyard finished the Alpine Rally unpenalized three times in a row from 1950 to 1952, becoming the first driver to win the coveted Coupe d’Or (Gold Cup). Only two drivers would match this feat; Stirling Moss in 1954 and Jean Vinatier in 1971.”  

Playboy 1948 Prototype: “All steel disappearing top. 70 mph. 30-35 mi. per gal. 90” wheelbase, 47” tread, 40 HP engine in excel. cond. independent front suspension, coil rear. Car run very little and is in first class trim throughout. Price $1175.” 

Wikipedia describes, “Playboy Motor Car Corporation was a Buffalo, New York-based automobile company, established in 1947. Playboy offered a small, one seating row convertible, which was one of the first to come standard from factory with a multi-part, retractable hardtop.”

“The company,” Wikipedia continues, “only made 99 cars including 1 prototype, 97 finished serial numbered production cars, as well as 1 unfinished car numbered 98 which has survived with zero miles on the odometer (99 cars total), before going bankrupt in 1951.”

Back Issues. The February issue ran a “Classified Advertising” for Road and Track back issues: “May ’48; June ’48; February ’49: 25¢ per copy. December ’49; January ’50: 35¢ per copy.” 

The  magazine’s idiocentric “35¢ the copy” didn’t appear until March 1954, same issue as its “&.” It continued through June 1959, by which time it was “50¢ the copy,’ after which any quantifying ‘the copy” disappeared.  

“Autolist.” In March 1950, another For Sale/Wanted variant was introduced with “Autolist.” It noted, “Road and Track assumes no responsibility for listing under this heading, and Autolist is not to be confused with the Classified Advertising section of this magazine.” 

Huh? An example follows.

Duesenberg 1931 Model J Convertible Coupe: “Murphy body. 3000 mi. since overhaul. Original throughout. Tires, top, upholstery and paint (black) in 1st cls cond. Photos on request. $975. (A)” 

“When answering ads be sure to include the letter or number shown in parenthesis. A card or letter will bring full details of this service.”

Completely independent of this, a later Duesenberg appeared in “Clark Gable, Car Enthusiast Extraordinaire,” SimanaitisSays, August 18, 2012, only the eighth posting of this website.

Clark Gable’s 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe takes on a unique rakishness in its Bohman & Schwartz coachwork. Photo from Gooding & Company catalog.

The mind boggles at a Duesenberg Model J for only $975 even in 1950. Equivalent cash today would be a scant $13,500, whereas Hemmings indicates Duesenberg prices ranging from $300,000 to “Inquire.”  

A Well-Known Prospective Seller. Promised in Part 1 was a prospective seller of notoriety. Indeed, in February and March 1950, an S.S. Swallow 2 1/2 litre 4 place sports car was offered by legendary radio/TV host Dave Garroway. Ad for the Swallow (a Jaguar precursor) no longer ran in April.

Hillman 1948 Sedan: “Radio, heater—grey with blue upholstery, 25,000 miles. Swap for MG ‘TC’ midget in good condition.”

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded as in sleep.”—William Shakespeare. ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2026