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Alley Cad: 1954

1954. Washington, D.C. "Hibbs Building, 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Exterior." 8x10 acetate negative by Theodor Horydczak. View full size.

1954. Washington, D.C. "Hibbs Building, 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Exterior." 8x10 acetate negative by Theodor Horydczak. View full size.

 

Rocket

No Rocket V8 powered Oldsmobile would ever fall into the category of "sluggish". They were impressive performers.

Super 88

Being a convertible, it can only be a Super 88, which had the 98's higher compression 303 V-8 with a four-barrel carb. It could also have standard transmission, but more likely has the first year of the re-designed four speed Dual-Range Hydra-Matic with the "S" for Super gear (locked the transmission in 3rd) between Dr and Lo. If it was built after the Hydra-Matic plant fire in August, it would have the dreaded Buick Dynaflow, often called "Dynaslow".

That dates me!

My little laptop screen doesn't show much at once. I was looking at the photo, thinking that must have been at least a decade before I was born, based on the car in the driveway. Scrolling a bit more, I saw that it was the year I was born!

Second Best

The Caddy is lustworthy but I prefer the slightly less fussy looks of the Oldsmobile Sedanette on the same body shell. Either one would be a sluggish, vile-handling fuel hog by modern standards, of course.

Good Rule

Always buy your Stocks at a place that looks solid as a bank.

Cadillac Free

At least at the time of this Streetview photo. The building is still there, by the way, at 725 15th Street NW, just north of the intersection with Pennsylvania Avenue:


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Fins!

The car in the alley is a 1948 Cadillac Series 61 coupe, sometimes called a "Sedanet." 1948 Cadillacs were significant in that they were one of GM's first all new postwar designs and the first car on the market to feature tailfins, inspired by the Lockheed P38 fighter plane. The car on the left is a 1953 Oldsmobile 88 convertible, not too shabby either.

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