Cool Old Cars
I've often mentioned my love of old cars, even though I can't claim to know much about them. They are beautiful examples of industrial design, and a huge part of American life, especially post-WWII. In my stash of scans, I have 20 (or so) scans to share, but the three I am presenting today are mysteries, in that I have no idea what the cars are. So hopefully you guys can help! All of these are undated, but are likely from the 1950s.
Well start with this portrait of two little girls in front of a blue-gray coupe of some sort. That rear fender is pretty distinctive, and should be a good clue for you experts.
This fellow put on his Sunday best to pose for a photograph with his new (?) automobile, painted in a deep red/maroon. That garage will just barely hold the vehicle!
And finally, one that gives us at least a few clues, thanks to the license plate from California, and the frame that says "San Diego", and "Balboa Olds". I can't quite make out the date (stamped on the plate), it might read "1952".
10 comments:
The first one is kinda weird looking. Also kinda cool and aerodynamic. The rear of the car looks like it could also be the front. The same way modern VWs look like they could be facing either way. I'm getting 1940s vibes from this pic. Little sis is wearing cowboy boots!
I believe the color of the second car is "chocolate syrup". Although I could be wrong. ;-) The roof of the house (garage?) next door looks like it's made of canvas. The car has a stately, well-made appearance. I bet it weighs more than a blue whale.
I can't decide if the third car looks cool... or dorky. The grillwork makes it look like a giant carp. Or maybe an unfortunate kid with 'deluxe' braces in his mouth. Looks like there is a 'wiener dog' trying to escape the photo on the left. Or maybe it's a chihuahua. OH! I see another one at the feet of the people. Still not sure of the breed.
Dang. I was hoping someone with 'knowledge' would comment first so that my clueless comment would have some sort of balance. Oh well. Thanks, Major.
Oh, Major-
I know that [secretly] you already have the answers to the 'mystery cars' question, but I'll tell you anyways...
That first one, sitting behind the sisters-? (special points for the cowboy boots) is a 1947 Studebaker Starlight Coupe. "First by far with a postwar car-!" I don't know which year(s) Studebaker also used the slogan: "Vision produced this car of vision" - for obvious reasons.
The second object of desire is giving me a problem. The hood ornament seems to be an outlier (an upgraded aftermarket perhaps, provided by the nattily attired gentleman standing next to it-?) Otherwise, it appears to be a 1942 thru 1946 Mercury in 'some' shade of maroon - they offered a few.
The final yellow beauty (uh, make that Lotus Cream) is a 1953 Oldsmobile.
Thanks, Major.
Love the 'Moon' hubcaps on the Mercury. Nice boots. I bet she wore them every day but Mom said 'No' to church.
Thanks, Major.
Zach
I’m not a car expert, so I can’t offer any insight, but these are all great photos.
Thanks Major, for a little break from routine.
JG
Ooh - old cars!
While I have no reason to doubt Nanook's ID that that Olds is a '53, I find it odd that the car is sporting a 1951 license plate without a 1952 or 53 validation tab.
From 1941-55, California only issued new plates every few years (1941, 1945, 1947, and 1951). Instead of annual validation stickers like we have today, California issued metal validation tabs. These were a different color than the base plate and were to be affixed on top of the year on the base plate, aligned with an edge of the plate near a mounting hole. If you registered a new car in, say, 1953, the DMV would issue you a 1951 plate with a 1953 validation tab. THIS is what that would have looked like.
Again, no reason to doubt Nanook's ID of the model year - he knows his cars - but I find the plate odd. Note the old-school stop sign in the background.
JB, I think that "canvas" roof is probably covered with tar paper.
Thanks, Major!
@ Chuck-
"I find it odd that the car is sporting a 1951 license plate without a 1952 or 53 validation tab".
'Cuz those metal tabs were only applied to the rear plate.
I should also mention... the color of the Studebaker is either Coronado Gray or Berkshire Gray.
And - the car parked behind the Oldsmobile is a 1952 Kaiser. "See the world's safest front seat!" - just in case you were wondering where to find it.
Nanook, oh, duh! That makes total sense. Thanks - now I can stop scratching my head!
JB, I agree, that first car is weird looking. A lot of 50s cars are pretty appealing, but I don’t know if that example would be something I’d love to have. Now that this particular slide has been put away, I can’t look at the cardboard mount, but it is possible that it is from the late 1940s, or into the 1950s. “Chocolate Syrup” color, a great name that would make me want to buy that car! I love that the owner seemed so proud of his wheels. I like that third car, it has that 50s look that I find so appealing. It does sort of have a “carp mouth”, but that’s OK. I remember an article referring to cars from this era as “bulgemobiles”. and that seems apt. Looking ahead, I see that Nanook has worked his magic!
Nanook, it’s true, I actually know everything about these cars, I just don’t want to be boastful. Whoa, a Studebaker, for some reason I have a fondness for that maker. My best friend always talks about how his dad had a Studebaker years ago and how much he loved it. Obviously it was a later model! I know that some people did like to put custom hood ornaments on their cars, but I’m sure you are right about that one being a Mercury. “Lotus Cream”, how do they come up with those names?? Thanks Nanook.
Zach, yes, those hubcaps are kind of cool, as are the tiny cowboy boots!
JG, Saturdays are generally going to be a break from the routine. Years ago I did “a week without Disneyland”, maybe I need to do that again.
Chuck, interesting about how plates in California were only issued on those particular years. In the 40s you can understand that they didn’t want to use the metal, since that was required for more important things. Thanks for the link to the photo with the validation tabs, since I was wondering what those looked like. I have some little cereal box license plates (for bicycles, I guess?), and I think some of them simulate validation tabs. I didn’t notice the old stop sign, so thanks for pointing that out!
Nanook, CHECK MATE!
Chuck, it’s OK, you can sit over here with me!
Major-
"It does sort of have a “carp mouth”".
Yes, for many model years Oldsmobile's had a sort-of 'fish-like' front end - perhaps the inspiration for this infamous quote from Time Magazine in describing the new Edsel nameplate's trademark horse collar grille... It looks like an Oldsmobile sucking on a lemon. Byron couldn't have said it more graciously-!
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