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Noonday Rambler: 1962
... roll film. Fun auto fact: since we bought it from a Hudson dealer, our Rambler was Hudson-badged; it and Nash badges were discontinued ... but driving on a road at speed was WAY different. That car was a chalky baby-blue and I can't say if the seat folded down. I also had ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 08/30/2017 - 5:54pm -

Glistening from a wash, wax and chrome polish job by sixteen-year-old me, our 1956 Rambler station wagon basks in the sun on the ramp of our garage on Walnut Avenue in Larkspur, California on a summer day in 1962. I'm sure I was paid something whenever I did this, but I actually enjoyed it; in fact, I always volunteered. I recorded my effort this time by clicking off three shots with my Kodak Brownie Starmite, using Perutz black-and-white 127 roll film. Fun auto fact: since we bought it from a Hudson dealer, our Rambler was Hudson-badged; it and Nash badges were discontinued after the 1957 model run. View full size.
About that front tagSo tterrace, what's up with the 56 year on the front tag if this pix was from 62'? Was the front tag not necessary in California then and thus was just historical decoration?
[California supplies yearly renewal tags for the rear plate only. -tterrace]
Had A Friend...who had one of those; I remember that the upper a-arms tended to break, letting the attached front wheel assume strange geometries. He wouldn't get rid of it, though, because the front seat folded down into a bed.
Ah, youth!
WeightDo you know how much that baby weighed?
[2992 lbs. - Super Cross Country 4-door wagon. -tterrace]
PleaseColorize it, it makes me more nostalgic for Grandpa's red and black Buick Roadmaster.
[Better yet, the real colors. -tterrace]
My first driving experience!I learned to drive in one of those 1956 Rambler station wagons, owned by a neighbor. It had a three-speed shifter on the steering column, if I remember correctly. 
I had driven a Ford tractor, but driving on a road at speed was WAY different.
That car was a chalky baby-blue and I can't say if the seat folded down. I also had forgotten how pretty that front end was.
I love that emerald-green paint job, tterrace. Class!
Ed Andersonand Bill Reddig were the guys who designed this car, for model years 1956 and 1957. It was offered as one of the first muscle cars in 1957 as the Rebel.
Slogan"Stick out your chest like you owned a Nash."
Billboard copy, sergeant to recruit, 1950s.
Polo Green Hash, and trunnionsWith the Nash/Hudson merger, and the rebadging of cars, the cars acquired the nickname "Hash" for a time.  As for this car, paintref.com shows the colors to be Polo Green (code P-75) with a Frosty White top (P-72).
[Ours left the factory solid green; the dealer (Priola Motors in San Francisco) talked my father into having them paint the roof, reasoning that it would help keep the passenger compartment cooler. I remember the white chipping off a bit around the edges over the years, and it never could get a real shine. -tterrace]
PersonFromPorlock's comment on the front end could be related to the trunnions.  While most other carmakers used upper and lower A-arms with kingpins, (switching to the use of ball joints around the time this car was made), Nash/Rambler/AMC used a split upper arm with the upright in between (having the coil spring above it), and a trunnion containing a bronze bushing and thrust bearing holding the arm halves to the spring perch above and to the knuckle below.  The 1956 models like this one used upper and lower trunnions; later, the lower one was eliminated, replaced by a ball joint, like on our '66 American. AMC continued to use an upper trunnion up until the early 1970s, when they finally went to an all ball joint setup.  Periodically lubricated, the trunnions should last indefinitely.
Here's a good treatise on assembly of upper trunnions, specifically for the '63-'64 Ambassador and Classic.
Llicense plate tagThe CA plates in 1956 had the year stamped into the plates, front and rear.
[Had this photo been from the back you'd see a 1962 validation sticker applied between CALIFORNIA and 56 on the rear plate. - tterrace]
We're Gonna Need a Bigger Station WagonMade a trip from Amarillo to San Angelo, Texas in the same car, in the very same color. Mom and us four kids rode with Berniece, the wife of Dad's business partner, and her 6-year-old daughter Glenda. By the time we got to San Angelo, every one of us kids had been bitten by Glenda at least twice before we got to the motel. We spent the whole two weeks of that vacation hiding from Glenda.
(ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)

Car Talk: 1972
... alligator hood Safer if the latch gives while the car is moving. Still seen today on such as various Corvette models and a ... a '65 Ford, which my mother bought brand new from my Ford dealer uncle. All generalizations..... I think it's pretty impressive ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/05/2010 - 6:09pm -

"Cornett family, Kentucky, 1972." Battery transplant for the 1957 Ford seen in the previous post from this series. Print from 35mm negative by William Gedney. Gedney Photographs and Writings Collection, Duke University.  View full size.
HoodiesI wonder if they took the battery from the '65 Ford in the background. The '57's front-hinged hood was a reminder to me of my second vehicle, a 1946 Hudson Super Six. The hood also opened that way.
Let's get this wrapped up, quick.The beer store closes in 20 minutes.
Reverse alligator hoodSafer if the latch gives while the car is moving.  Still seen today on such as various Corvette models and a certain PV-544 Volvo in my garage.  Wonder if there was a Ford side and a Chevy side to the family?
Old Car ParadiseIf the Cornett family still has the same place they did then, it would be a car restorer's treasure trove. Apparently they did not get rid of any old cars.
Best of TimesOh, for the roar of V-8's in the early seventies.  I was filling my '66 Fairlane up in '72 with 102 octane Chevron Supreme for 29.9 cents a gallon.  Bought it by the "dollar's worth" and had enough to cruise into town 10 miles away, drive around a bit and then head for Cal's Drive-In, home of the 19 cent hamburger where we would fill up on five for less than a buck.
JuicedAt least they had a good battery. Neat to see an old Interstate from back then.
Hood's Up!My second car was a 1958 Ford Custom 300 two-door hardtop with the 332 V-8 Interceptor.  This is a '57-'59 but I can't get enough visual cues to determine which.  It looks like it has a two-barrel carb, so it's probably a 292 or 312. What I can see of the dash should clarify the year, but I just can't remember, it's been 42 years since I traded it off. The car in the background is a '65 Ford, which my mother bought brand new from my Ford dealer uncle.
All generalizations.....I think it's pretty impressive the way Lou can determine the IQ of a person from a 38 year old b&w photo. Of course he is the "smart one" of the familyf.
Enough of the rednecks!I don't expect you to publish this, but i am really tired of these yahoos polluting the Shorpy goodness. I have a dozen or so cousinfs who look like this and seem about as unintelligent.
Please, back to the past again, please! If you are taking votes, put me down for two against more of these rednecks aqnd their polluting vehicles!
Thanks. Not just the subject, but I'd prefer seeing nothing on Shorpy from later than 1950 (my birthdate).
Lou
[Nothing worse than an unintelligent counsinf. - Dave]
ConfoundingI don't understand how pants can  be fitted so as to lack a belt, while not creating a roll of fat, while not being loose so as to display underwear. I have never seen the like in today's America.
We're all wonderingDoes anyone have any info on where the guys are now??
Recycling, what's that?I wonder what they did with the dead batteries (and used oil when they changed their own, which they surely did).  In those pre-EPA days they very likely just dumped the batteries into the nearest stream or ravine.  Oil?  No sense catching it, just unscrew the drain plug and let it drain into the ground.  Today, I wonder if the property is eligible for Superfund cleanup.  
Indiana state inspection stickerThis car must've came from Indiana at one time, note the State of Indiana inspection sticker on the corner of the windshield. Don't think they took the battery from the 65 Ford, the battery looks like it's still in its box.
Hood's Up IIDumb me!  All I had to do was look down two photos and see the front end of this 1957 Ford, the year Ford outsold the future iconic Chevy!  Whodathunkit!  Had any number of those Interstate batteries and its heavy duty sibling the Megatron back in the day.  They'll get good service out of it.  For whatever reason, Ford continued the use of the rear-opening hood through '69 on the Lincolns.
It's all about you, Lou."I'd prefer seeing nothing on Shorpy from later than 1950 (my birthdate)."
That pretty much tells us everything we need to know about Lou.
Thank God for rednecks who can fix our cars, grow our food, and keep our beer distributors in business!  Where would this country be without them?
I, for one, love rednecks and despise snobs who look down their noses at them!
That ain't no 2 barrel carbThat is a Holley 4150 4 barrel.  Note the rear metering block.  The stock 4V Holleys for regular Ford engines were 4160 types without the rear metering block.  The 4150/4160 was not in production in 1957.  In 1957 the Holley 4V was still the model 4000 "teapot".  
The presence of the 4150 carb suggests non-stock speed parts.  The level of the carb in the engine bay suggests the Y block engine has been replaced, probably with an FE series mill (352, 390, 406, 427, 428).  My '58 Ford has a 352 with Tri-Power, sits at about the same level.  Sure wish there was a shot of the engine.
The Other HalvesAccording to the CIA, the median age of Americans is 36.7 years and the median age of the world's population is a mere 24.3 years.. Therefore, more than half of Americans alive today and three quarters of the world population were not yet born when these Cornett family photos were taken. Shorpy's peeks at the Cornetts inform most Americans and a huge majority of the world what life was like here way back when.
The CIA Factbook population numbers are kind of scary -- the median age in Afghanistan and Angola is 18, 16.8 in Burkina Faso and Burundi, and only 15 in Uganda and Niger. The oldest median ages reported were in Germany and Japan at 44+ years.
Lookey LouI wonder which of those "rednecks" did Lou's last brake job. Maybe a compression test would be in order.  Seems the head bolts are a bit over-torqued.
Easy there Lou!Getting a wee bit cranky in your old age?
Dave, you got me there ... and I Love It!I relied too much on Spell Check and the inability of one to overlook ones own spelling errors. I am still laughing at my error -- or was it? We did indeed turn a wrench ... and on the Rare Occasion a wench, too.
Thanks, I really needed a good laugh today ... you're Great!
[Aw shucks. - Dave]
The Best of the Cornett Boys & FriendsBoy, I sure was glad to see Jay comment here, he was just in front of my thoughts. As to Lou, well, too bad for him and his poor relation "cousinfs." They may have been the better portion of the family -- but I digress.
I grew up in the South Chicago Suburbs, so although not down in Kentucky, my friends and I did the same thing as the Cornett boys…we were all over cars, and motorcycles. Oh, and my Wrangler Jeans never saw a belt and never fell from my waist, either.
My best friend had two vehicles, a 1939 Harley Knucklehead 61 CI and a Studebaker pickup, about a 1952. I drove, or rode both, and I still ride today, thanks to Mike.
My point is that Cars, Motorcycles, Cigarettes, and Beer were the topics of the day, and then the occasional Girl. The Studebaker didn't ever have a working starter, at least an electrical one. Our Band of Brothers just pushed it and one of us would pop the clutch in 2nd gear to start the flat head six. We went everywhere in this truck, two or three in the cab and then others back in the bed. We never gave any of this a second thought. And, all of us could "turn a wench," so we just had Fun with our Boy Toys.
So, Kentucky or Chicago, or any place else, it doesn’t make a difference. The Cornett Boys and we Yankees had Very Much in common. Good Times!
["All of us could turn a wench" -- simultaneously? - Dave]
How 'bout it?Some more of the sisters. Or did the boys hog all the spotlight?
[Maybe so, just by virtue of their greater numbers. But there are more to come of the girls. - Dave]
New Hampshire redneck!Grew up and lived in southern New Hampshire during this time. This photo looks like any of our back yards on a weekend during the summer. So much for it being a "Southern thing"! Funny thing is I go back there to visit friends and family after all these years we'll still gather around someone's new car and  shoot the breeze. Cars, fast cars, women, and beer! Nice to have a little sameness in life.
Enough, Already!Re: Cornett family photos.  Frankly they remind me too much of my youth in the 50s.  I've got lots of equally period photos if you need them.
Jimbo's vintage snapshots>> I've got lots of equally period photos if you need them.
Yeah, but there's a difference -- Gedney's photos are amazingly good and evocative.
There's a Corvairback there.
'Shiners?These guys may well be souping up their car for a moonshine run.  You had to have hot cars to keep ahead of the "Revenuers". This is the way NASCAR got its start!
As for Lou, a lot of us come from redneck roots, even if we are card carrying liberals today.  Therefore, Lou, you may be making fun of our relatives.  Get over yourself and live with the pictures of people who aren't as fortunate as you.
Corvair? Back there? Where?It looks like a 1963 Chevrolet Impala/Biscayne to me.
I am referencing the car (in the right background of the photo) that can be seen over the left shoulder of the guy holding the car battery. The car is also partially obscured by the hatless head of another family member.
If you enlarge the photo and look closely at this car in the background, you can see the straight, shiny, chrome trim on the turned down front edge of the hood as well as just  above the outer-headlight bezel trim. This particular chrome trim is indicative of the '63 model Chevy Impala.
Upon further inspection of the enlarged photograph, this car also has a front grille between the headlights.
A Corvair does not have a front grille. It does have two elongated rear grilles below the bottom edge (rear cowl area) of the back window glass.
[You're half right. The car is not a Corvair, but it's not an Impala, either. It's a circa 1965 Malibu.  - Dave]
(Cars, Trucks, Buses, Cornett Family, William Gedney)

Sea Crest Motors: 1977
... to Pontiac, the Native American chief and namesake for the car company. Very impressive to gaze up to at night; I don't think he sold many ... Chief, though... Good Old Days When the Cadillac dealer put a late model Lincoln on his used car lot and the Lincoln dealer did ... 
 
Posted by rizzman1953 - 05/20/2012 - 7:00pm -

Fall 1977. Sea Crest Motors was a Cadillac-Pontiac-Mazda dealership on Route 1A in Lynn, Massachusetts. The Indian could be a reference to Pontiac, the Native American chief and namesake for the car company. Very impressive to gaze up to at night; I don't think he sold many cars though.  View full size.
Big IndianOne of the early roadside advertising attractions(or distractions?) Read more; http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/30707
Where's the Chief?This place is still there, and was called Sea Crest until fairly recently. It's now called "Pride" but still sells Lincolns, etc. as well as Kias and Hyundais. No sign of the Chief, though...
Good Old DaysWhen the Cadillac dealer put a late model Lincoln on his used car lot and the Lincoln dealer did the same.
Two nice looking "personal luxury cars" there though.
HeavyVictrolaJazz : For comparison, a milspec Humvee starts at 5,200 lbs!
Those things were led sleds for sure.
AvoirdupoisThe Eldorado - 4,955 lbs!
The Continental - 4,652 lbs.!
11 MPG Highway / 7 MPG City
We've come a long way, baby!
That Indian was also a GiantThe mold for the large Indian was used for many customers, and sometimes painted as a Caucasian Giant, if that would better fit the name of the purchaser's business.
TargetA Pontiac dealership here in San Antonio had one of those perched up very high.  It became a common target for archers with it rarely not having a few arrows in the chest.
Cars at NightI can recall shopping at that dealership, but why I have no idea. Living on the South Shore of Boston it would not have been convenient or smart to buy there. I do love photos of shiny new cars in the dark!  Great photo Rizzman!
Glorious Excess!The car directly under the indian is a 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz.  The Biarritz was the top trim level, and is distinguished from the 'ordinary' Eldorado by the addition of chrome trim from the sides of the hood to the kick-up of the rear fender, as well as the 'coach' lights on the side of the C pillar, padded leather-grained vinyl roof, pillow-topped leather seats, and available gold plating on all emblems and crests.  I have one, and believe me, it is the world's gaudiest, least useful car - the interior is small, and the trunk won't even hold two suitcases.  Pure American in-your-face ersatz luxury, the sort of thing that put the American Auto industry on the ropes.
Cadillac vs. LincolnNice display at this dealership. This is the used car (pre-owned in today's jargon) area as evidenced by the late model cars sitting around (I noticed a nice looking '74 or '75 Firebird in the background). I like how the dealer positioned the Eldorado next to the Lincoln Mark V. Those were some great years for cars (outside of the smogged down engines).
Loungin' in the LincolnOh this pic of the Lincoln brings back memories. I had this exact used car in 1979. I LOVED that car. Ultimate smooth ride, luxurious interior, big, fast engine. Sure it was a gas guzzler, but for a 20 yr. old girl, I was the envy of all my friends, LOL! It was like driving a sofa!
The Indians Are Coming!There are several statues of Indians in Maine, where I live.  Probably the most famous one is known as the FBI, which is visible from I-295 in Freeport.  Although the exact wording of the acronym FBI is the subject of much question and dispute, for purposes of keeping the text clean we'll call it the "Freeport" Big Indian.  The locals have several more "colorful metaphors", as Mr. Spock would call them.  There's an interesting web page that describes many of the statues located around the country.  Check it out at http://www.agilitynut.com/giants/indians.html
Another oneThere's one just like this big fiberglass Indian at a car lot on the southside of Parkersburg, WV. It's been moved at least a couple of times since the 1960's, but he's always been at a car lot.
American ironI spy at least three Firebirds in the background; one is a 74 or so Esprit or maybe Trans Am, also the back tail of what is probably a four door 75 or 76 Grand Am (yes they used the name back then as well) as well as the smattering of Cadillacs. The Biarritz Eldorado is beautiful; I've only seen them as beaters, being a bit younger. There is also a station wagon on the sales floor, it's the debut of the new smaller midsized G-body for 1978 e.g. Cutlass, Monte Carlo, here in Pontiac Le Mans Safari trim. Cool pic. I love to see a dealership pic that's of a different era then those usually posted here. Of course I love the old ones as well.
Cars of Eddie CoyleBuilding still stands on the Lynnway, selling furniture now. Mom grew up in Hyde Park and taught me never to go to "Lynn Lynn city of sin, you never come out the way you came in"
Land YachtsMy uncle had a Caddy like that, except it was a rag top in triple-white! As a kid I just did not grasp the concept of "It's too hot to put the top down today!" As a "grown-up" I still don't buy that one. Oh, and I'm pretty sure that's a Mark IV (1972-76) as the Mark V (1977-79) had a slimmer, less bulbous roof. I wouldn't mind having a nice example of either one! Our '69 Lincoln Continental four-door featured a custom license tag that read "MYOT." Always got a grin at traffic lights!
(ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)

Midtown Motors: 1946
... know! Right across the street from a Tesla dealership. Car shopping I notice that all the vehicles on the showroom floor have drip ... KFI which is a radio station in L.A.??? [Auto dealer Earle Anthony owned KFI in Los Angeles, a fact advertised by the KFI ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/23/2018 - 7:36pm -

June 28, 1946. "Midtown Motors, 950 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco." Back when Ford specialized in making cars. 8x10 inch acetate negative. View full size.
Still there?Google street view shows 40s vintage cars in the windows? Not sure they’re Fords, I’m sure someone else here will know! Right across the street from a Tesla dealership.
Car shoppingI notice that all the vehicles on the showroom floor have drip pans under them.
I want to deal on the little coupe in the foreground.
I remember auto showrooms back then had a nice smell to them of new paint, rubber and some secret ingredient.
InspirationAnyone into the PV series that Volvo produced from about 1947 until 1965 can see where they got the basic design. 
950 Van NessYep. Those are vintage Fords in the window of 950 Van Ness.  Funny thing. When I lived in the Bay Area, that place(corner of Van Ness and O'Farrell) was a Mercedes Benz dealership.
Yep, still thereIt is now the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum
Here's a link to their web site. Looks like it's worth a visit. 
https://academyautomuseum.org/?page_id=13
Oh come on!Am I the only one here who immediately saw the Ford emblem on the hubcaps were not parallel to the floor?  How hard would it have been to pop them off and put them on right for the photo?
Packards are Across the StreetI think I'll go browse there. Wonder if that's now the Tesla dealership.
LATER -- Looking the Packard dealership pictures -- seems that this is the place on streetview where they are selling Jaguars.
Ghost marquesChevrolet above the lights; Packard over the stair.
[Also radio station KFI. - Dave]
ReflectionsIn the fully enlarged image you can make out the reflection of a neon CHEVROLET sign that must have been across the street. Also KFI PACKARD vertically. Drip pans under these Fords because there were road tubes for ventilating the engine crankcase and oil would normally accumulate and drip from the tubes. 
Competition getting sneakyWhy or from where - the CHEVROLET reversed / reflected above the lower strip of ceiling lights?
[Think hard and I bet you can figure it out. - Dave]
Oxymoron?The caption says Van Ness in S.F. then references KFI which is a radio station in L.A.???
[Auto dealer Earle Anthony owned KFI in Los Angeles, a fact advertised by the KFI sign and giant dummy antennas on the roof of his San Francisco "Palace of Packards" on Van Ness. More reading here and here. Examples of actual oxymorons here. - Dave]
Dave, you outdid yourself.The best watermark ever!
RE: Still There?It's now the Academy of Arts Auto Museum. 
https://academyautomuseum.org/
SHORPYx2 on the Watermark! Sometimes more interesting than the photos themselves. 
bldg mixup ????image of bldg backin the day on van ness seems ok but DDRESS IS NOT 950 VANNESS AVE. at ofarrel st but a bldg further down strret 900 van ness more or less at ellis street.  anyone can back me up.  bldg at ellis had the 4 columns and each corner lamppost and 2 stories atall and not 4-5 stories as at 950 vn ness, etc etc.
[You are deeply confused. The photo below shows the building across the street from 950 Van Ness. Get some sleep! - Dave]
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, San Francisco, W. Stanley)

Sausalito: 1958
... the work of George Barris. First girlfriend's car That Chevrolet in the third row on the right side looks like the 53 ... market reaction, it led to the P1800 of 1962. And a Volvo dealer, Volvoville on Long Island, NY, later converted a few P1800 coupes into ... 
 
Posted by Rute Boye - 07/25/2012 - 8:30pm -

The yacht harbor in Sausalito, California, shot on Anscochrome circa 1958. I believe this is on Richardson Bay, with Belvedere Point in the background. There are some pretty interesting cars in in this shot, including the mysterious little European-looking thing on the far right.  View full size.
SausalitoI believe the "European-looking thing" is an American-made Crosley van. The near ridge is indeed Belvedere Island; beyond that, Tiburon Peninsula. I looked for our 1956 Rambler wagon, but no such luck. [Edited to reflect correction of reversed image.]
Re: BabushkaSo did my Mom's side, all first or second generation California-Italian, despite "Babushka" being Grandmother in Russian...
DaveB
Many, many more boatsA contemporary view of the same parking lot (courtesy of Google Earth) reveals the 1958 photo was taken at approximately 517 Bridgeway in Sausalito. 
Landscaping has softened the edges of the dirt parking lot (originally a train yard for Northwestern Pacific Railroad) and the number of pleasure craft has exploded, but the small sheds lining the pier have remained pretty much unchanged. 
Impala, SchmimpalaDustyrider said: "Super Sport Chevrolets until 1961."
Ummm, no. The Impala was introduced, as the top of the line Chevrolet, in 1958.
[Confusion arises because he split his sentence between the title and the body of the comment. He was attempting to say "There were no Impala Super Sport Chevrolets until 1961." - tterrace]
Bob Bourke MasterpieceAlthough the pictured Studebaker design came out of the Raymond Loewy studio, it was created by Bob Bourke, with help from several other guys. Loewy normally gets the credit for this landmark Studie, but the design was not his. 
Regarding Babushka Lady, does anyone else see a hint of 58 Mercury in the image? Notice that the wing configuration fits a full panoramic windshield, something none of the Chrysler products ever had.
The bodywork on the humble 51 Nash is definitely not the work of George Barris.  
First girlfriend's carThat Chevrolet in the third row on the right side looks like the 53 model that my older woman (17) girlfriend picked me up in.
English FordI recognized the green import center front as an English Ford. I remember seeing them back when my mother drove me around in our black 1959 Chevy Impala Super Sport.
Sausalito TodayI decided to take a quick ride down to Sausalito and see if I could replicate the image from 1958. I think I got pretty close, and the changes can be seen. 
Another European beautyI'm pretty sure the rightmost car on the third row is a Citroen DS.
Not an Anglia?Not sure if its an Anglia looks more like this a 1952 Consul
love the cars!I see a Willys-Overland Jeep Station Sedan!
Changing face of the US auto marketIn addition to that green Ford Consul and yellow Crosley, I see a blue-green Renault Dauphine next to a Cadillac in the second row, and a VW Beetle and Karmann Ghia in the back row, facing away from the viewer.  Still a number of US independents to be seen, in the form of Nash/Ramblers and that lovely black '55 Studebaker hardtop in front of the Consul.
Negative flippedNo one has mentioned that the negative has been flipped here. Notice all the steering wheels are on the wrong side. I want that black Studebaker!
[Wow, extreme blushes from a Marin County native here! It's been fixed, thanks! - tterrace]
Hey! Look for me in the Bay area, 1958I'll be in the VW Bus, California tag #PVD 799.
Summer nights?Hot summer night in Sausalito
Can't stand the heat another mile
Let's drop a quarter in the meter
And hit the sidewalk for a while
--"Sausalito Summer Night"
Diesel, c. 1981
It's a CrosleyA Crosley Panel Truck
1959 or 1960 perhapsI believe I see a 1959 Chevy in the last row, facing the gent walking on the dock.
Little European thingsQuite a few of 'em, actually. Above the Crosley is a Citroen; right in the middle (above the1955 Studebaker Commander Coupe with its, ahem,"European Styling") is a Renault Dauphine; to the left is a black VW Beetle, and above it a black-over-red VW Karmann Ghia. There's also some convertible in the middle of the far row that look vaguely English next to another Bug and to its left, something I'd almost swear was a Volvo PV544. Yep, there's also a '59 Chevy, but it's no Impala.
P.S. I'm told the translation for Reanault Dauphine is, "I rust."
Bound for TahitiAll this talk of cars overlooks a much more significant element to this photo. The large, two-masted schooner at the outermost dock is Sterling Hayden's Wanderer.
Hayden was a major Hollywood heartthrob at the time, but in 1958 he got fed up with the system and walked out on it all. In violation of studio contracts and a court-ordered divorce decree, he sailed off to Tahiti with his four kids on Wanderer. The voyage formed the central thread of the autobiography he published five years later, titled "Wanderer." This photo must have been taken very shortly before he left.
He was not some impulsive pleasure boater though. Hayden had been a sea captain for a long time before falling into Hollywood in the first place. He was frequently canonized as an independent man who didn't care what anybody else thought of him and did not get along with the Hollywood system. But his autobiography paints a much deeper, somewhat sadder picture of a man who never seemed to quite find what he was looking for.
He continued to live in Sausalito for a long time later in life. It's quite likely one of the cars in the foreground of the photo was his, but I don't know what he drove.
Re Hayden, Studebakers, and Precious Bodily FluidsSterling Hayden had an exceedingly interesting life (actor, author, sailor, model, Marine, OSS agent) and I urge everyone to read the Wiki on him. As General Jack Ripper in "Dr. Strangelove", his character's concern for precious bodily fluids helped set the tone for that film's zany atmosphere. 
Regarding Studebakers, I sure can relate to the one in this photo because half a century ago the one below (a '54 Starliner) was mine, properly dechromed, lowered and with the anemic stock engine replaced with a Chevy V-8. I was only two years old, of course, so reaching the pedals was a chore.
More carsA red '53(?) Ford F100 in the row nearest the camera, behind it a '58 or '59 Lincoln, to the left is a '58 Chrysler Imperial. In the row near the water, on the right, a '53 Buick Roadmaster parked at an angle. One row closer and a bit left, a '56 Plymouth. Now my eyes are tired.
So many cars!Thanks to Shorpy viewers, the only three vehicles I couldn't make out were identified (the Crosley Van, English Ford, and the Volvo convertible). I was proud to be able to name all of the rest of them, but I won't bore everyone with a recitation of their makes here, unless someone wants to twist my arm!
The English Ford was truly a California carMy Dad was a Ford employee for years, so when I began to drive in the early 1960's he bought me a used Ford Anglia for a few hundred dollars.  When I started college in 1965, I purchased a used Anglia station wagon with real wood trim.  They were great little cars as long as the temperature was above 28 degrees. Unfortunately Michigan gets much colder in the winter. The starting system didn't have the snap at lower temperatures to start the engine.  AAA finally cut me off from road service on the car because of too many push starts.  Push it up to 10 mph and pop the clutch and it would start no matter what the temperature.  Both had manifold vacuum operated windshield wipers which slowed down when you went up a hill or did a hard acceleration.  Both also had the old vacuum tube radios which used a vibrator power supply to boost the 12 volts to the necessary higher voltages.  The radio took about 25 seconds to warm up.  I still can remember the buzz the vibrator made. I still wonder today what possessed me to buy the second Anglia. 
Hayden the WandererCarl H's identification of Sterling Hayden's yacht has to earn the noticing prize for July, even among the Shorpy eagle eyes.
Hayden's unhappiness circa 1958 had another source: in 1951 he "named names" before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Ever after he expressed "contempt for myself since the day I did that." Tahiti turned out not to be far enough away.
Happily, over the last quarter century of his life, he regularly allowed himself to be lured out of "retirement" to make movies. This gave us General Jack Ripper in "Dr. Strangelove" and the crooked Captain McCluskey in "The Godfather."
Miles and Miles of Memories HereThere are lots of childhood memories amid that parking lot.  When my dad tired of waiting six weeks for penny ante parts from Coventry, England for our Jaguar Mark VII, he bought a '55 Studebaker coupe in two-tone blue.  He loved it.  I preferred the Jaguar and called our new main driver the "Stupidbaker".  But looking at the one here, I can see why my father remained forever fond of it.  And why he was annoyed when at age four, I let the air out of all the tires.
We also had a '57 Chevy coupe and a '59 Impala station wagon that was our favorite family vacation car for many years, so much so that we bought another, identical in every detail and had two for many years.
Our neighbor on one side had a Rambler like the one in the front row, but in metallic kelly green, and another neighbor had a Citreon, in white.  Rode in them often enough.
Interesting story about Hayden.  I'd like to read that book.  Thank you for mentioning it.
There were no ImpalaSuper Sport Chevrolets until 1961.
BabushkaAll the females in my household called the scarf the lady is wearing as she is getting in/out of the Dodge Wagon a babushka.
Volvo ConvertibleAs a long time Volvo owner, not sure if Volvo ever sold a convertible in the US back then; the P1900 was built during this time period [67 built], but it was more of an experiment to test market reaction, it led to the P1800 of 1962.  And a Volvo dealer, Volvoville on Long Island, NY, later converted a few P1800 coupes into convertibles, but without Factory blessing. That PV-544 might be a PV-444; if it's the car I think it is, you can't tell if the windshield is two piece [444] or one piece [544]. Great picture and interesting info about Hayden.  
The UK Ford......is in fact a 'Zephyr', the 6 cylinder big brother to the Consul. The Zephyr has a different front grill and hood and, unlike the Consul, has the chrome hood ornament that can just be seen in the photo. Also evident is the small chrome trim on the side fender just above the front wheel that was also not fitted to the Consul. I spent many an hour back in the day under the various products from Mr Ford, including these models. Thanks again Shorpy for my daily 'fix'!
Punch Bug, Light BluePunch Bug, Light Blue!
or is that Slug Bug?  I never remember.
LuxuryI love seeing the front of the Lincoln Continental and the rear of the Imperial.  Both cars are showing off their most distinctive features.
Sterling Hayden's addressSome are saying that Hayden lived in Sausalito. He had a magnificent old house on the very top of Belvedere Island south, a block away from my parents' after 1958. I remember our dogs didn't get along with his, not that he noticed.
(ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)

Zip It Garage: 1919
... of a sign on the side of the garage that says: "Car repair: $75/hour. Car repair if you want to help: $150/hour." -- If ... last longer then average "A" battery. Ask your Radio dealer - he carries them in stock. Washington Battery Co. 1621 L Street ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 4:24pm -

District of Columbia, 1919. Willard Service Station, Washington Battery Co., 1623 L Street. The sign: "We respectfully request customers to refrain from talking to workmen. Any information desired will be cheerfully given out by floor superintendent." National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.
Old-tyme mannersIs this the 1919 equivalent of a sign on the side of the garage that says:
"Car repair: $75/hour.
Car repair if you want to help: $150/hour."
--
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
Willard Batteries
"Willard" may refer to a brand of batteries rather then the name of the service station.  Washington Battery Company, originally located at 1621 L street expanded in 1918.  In addition to car batteries they sold batteries for radios and farm appliances.

 Washington Post, Feb 17, 1918

Due to increase in business the Washington Battery Company has found it necessary to enlarge its quarters on L street by taking the building next door, at 1623 L street, which is now being remodeled.

 Washington Post, Mar 2, 1924: Advertisement


 A Punch When You Need It 
Willard "A" Batteries give better voltage characteristics,
last longer then average "A" battery.
 Ask your Radio dealer - he carries them in stock.
Washington Battery Co.
1621 L Street N.W.


Washington Battery GarageOver at the Hemmings blog, Kit Foster identified the two cars as a Scripps-Booth and a Stearns. He also noted the two license plates on the latter and offered an explanation.
StearnsThe car on the left is a circa 1916 Oakland, on the right we see a circa 1917 Stearns Knight, and possibly the smaller four cylinder model, a larger six cylinder car was also offered. Known as "The Car With the White Band Radiator," Stearns was formed in 1898 as the Stearns Motor Car Company. Stearnses were built as quality cars from the get-go. In 1911, Stearns became the first US manufacturer to feature the Knight Sleeve Valve engine. In 1925 Stearns Knight was purchased by the Willys Overland and marketed at the top of the Willys range. Slow sales put an end to Stearns Knight after the 1929 model year.
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)

Shade Tree Mechanics: 1920
... 20th century. In its last gasp, in 2000 I took my damaged car there for an insurance estimate. The main reminder today is an old dealer showroom, now the Lustine Center of the floundering Hyattsville Arts ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/15/2013 - 7:31pm -

Prince George's County, Maryland, circa 1920. "Hyattsville Automobile Co." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
Born 30 Years Too Soon (or maybe 40)The young fellow on the left sure looks like he was made for the Beat Generation, or possibly the '60s.  He wanted to be writing, exploring the world -- anything but working on cars.  
Baltimore AvenueThis is a fantastic photo of old PG County. Could this have been near the Bladensburg town line, on Baltimore Avenue (currently US-1A)?
Way back whenlicense plates in the State of Maryland needed only three digits and vehicles didn't have brakes on the front axles.
[Model T's didn't have service brakes on the rear axles, either. The brake was in the transmission. - Dave]
Number Please?The three autos with the license tags visible are numbered; 370, 371 and 374. Number 372 or 373  is possibly lurking behind that tree.
Hyattsville Livery StableIt was at Emerson Street and Baltimore Avenue. Link.
Hyattsville AutomobileThe dealership went by the name of Suburban Motor Sales in 1931 and was owned by Hervey G. Machen Sr. The building was in the 4800 block of Baltimore Avenue near Gasch's Funeral Home. Many years ago Stanley Machen, Hervey's son, told me his father initially started the business under the Hyattsville Automobile Company name.  It was supposedly the county's first Ford dealership. The building was originally constructed as a livery stable.
[That explains the notation "Machen" on the negative. I wondered what that meant. - Dave]
ReflectionsI wonder what was going on at the American Legion from August 14-28.
Hyattsville Auto MileA stretch of US 1 north of the D.C. line was the "Auto Mile" through much of the 20th century. In its last gasp, in 2000 I took my damaged car there for an insurance estimate. The main reminder today is an old dealer showroom, now the Lustine Center of the floundering Hyattsville Arts District.
It's impossible to tell just where this photo was taken, but I'm sure I drive by the spot almost every day.
Baltimore BoulevardThe dealership was indeed located on Baltimore Boulevard (Avenue), though I'm not sure exactly where.  The reflection in the window would suggest across the street from the American Legion, although the Legion no longer has a post in Hyattsville.
By 1938, the dealership was apparently specializing in Buicks:

Washington Post, 8 January 1938.
The boys from Hyattsville Auto bravely entered the Prince George's County bowling league in 1928, taking the spot of their counterparts from Lustine Chevrolet (a mainstay on US-1 in Hyattsville until a few years ago), who had lost all 21 of their games.

Washington Post, 18 November 1928.
Around the CornerThis is (was, I suppose) right down the street from me. It doesn't look like either of these buildings remain, but I can go get a picture of what's there if anyone is interested.
[We are interested! - Dave]
Hyattsville Automobile Co.I now own the property in this photo it is a Auto Body shop at this time I have seen the Livery stable photo befor but not the Auto dealer but I was told that it was an old Ford dealer at one time I love to see our History as it was I remember about fifteen years ago we were installing a fence around the perimiter and we dug up old 100 year old car parts and a horse shoe. Thank you for sharing your info. Car guy 
(The Gallery, Gas Stations, Natl Photo)

Indianapolis: 1943
... like. An acquaintance recently bought a slightly used car that had been briefly owned by someone who was apparently the world's heaviest smoker. Despite the dealer's attempts to deodorize it, the first thing that came welling up within ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2012 - 1:52pm -

September 1943. "Soldiers with their girls at the Indianapolis bus station." Medium-format nitrate negative by Esther Bubley, OWI. View full size.
Takin' it all inThat Marine on the bus looks homesick already.
DeparturesThese pictures always make me sad.  I wonder if the men came back, if their girls were waiting for them ... well, you get the idea.
IndyI live near Indianapolis. I wish I knew where this was taken. From the little bit we can see, I'd assume it was taken somewhere near the circle and the circle monument.
[It was taken here, at the old traction terminal. - Dave]
OwnershipI like how the woman in the dark coat has her finger hooked in the back pocket of her man.
UnbelievableThese types of photos always make me think I'm looking at a movie still. I can never believe people actually looked like this.
West MarketIt appears that the Hilton hotel and parking garage to the west of the Hilton occupy the former Traction Terminal location. In the middle of the Google map and the image of the soldiers at the bus station is the Illinois Building.
View Larger Map
83rd Division GIsThe GI standing at the bus door is wearing the triangular patch of the 83rd Infantry Division, which trained at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The 83rd entered Normandy during the latter part of June 1944 and lost thousands in the hedgerow fighting.
¿Aire acondicionado?Por aquellos años, en Europa los autobuses eran mucho menos futuristas, éste parece de ciencia ficción. Hermosa y magnífica fotografía. ¡ Bravo, Esther !
The Super CoachThe Super Coach, put into production in the spring of 1936, was made until 1939. Close to 1,600 of these buses (Models 719 and 743) were constructed by Yellow Coach of Pontiac Mich., virtually all of them sold to Greyhound or its affiliates. Some of the last of these buses were delivered with air-conditioning in 1939. Many older ones were refitted with AC systems.(From "Over the Road" by Meier and Hoschek).
Can't stop staring.I think I've looked at this picture for 20 minutes, at least -- encouraged by thoughtful, relevant information like his unit and/or where they might have gone.  I can almost hear the big diesel idling from the back of the bus and smell the musky interior of vinyl seats and frequent use.
Foy
Las Vegas
Bus aromaFoy's olfactory reminiscence inspires this comment. I was recently reminded of what the inside of a long-distance bus smelled like. An acquaintance recently bought a slightly used car that had been briefly owned by someone who was apparently the world's heaviest smoker. Despite the dealer's attempts to deodorize it, the first thing that came welling up within me when I got in it on a hot day was a long-buried memory, and I thought "Greyhound bus, 1955."
Bus smellI took a Greyhound bus ride when I was a small child and that smell of diesel and the inside of the bus still comes back to remind me of that trip when I was 5. This picture is amazing. 
Goodbyes and off to war.I think I am more emotional now seeing these pictures and thinking back to that time when my beautiful bride of two years and I said our goodbyes at the train station in Detroit in 1944 than I was at the time.  I do wish we could know what happened to these young people.
Re: OwnershipThis makes me unbelievably sad. I hope they got to see each other again.
My interpretation of this pictureHis never ending love soothes my aching soul. When his loving brown eyes leave mine my lovely life will become dim.
SadAw, gee, i hope they came back...
So much emotionI love this picture
The TerminalWonderful picture! Some 10-12 years later in the mid-50's (I was about 8 or 9 ) my father and I took a bus trip from that terminal (we lived in Broad Ripple). I recall him reminiscing about the "boys that left from here to go to war." Especially about a neighbor of his in Broad Ripple that he saw off on the bus, bu never came back from the South Pacific. I can sense the sights and smells of that Terminal as if I were standing in it now!
Market StreetI believe the interurban and bus stations were on the north side of Market Street between the Civil War Monument and the State Capitol. I recall the electric trolley buses as a child when my dad took me to Indy, about 1959, to pick up a family member coming home.
(The Gallery, Esther Bubley, Indianapolis, WW2)

A Tattered Tire: 1922
... Circa 1922 in San Francisco, this aging Chalmers touring car needs a new shoe. Since we're at the Maxwell-Chalmers dealer, why not take a look at the new models? 6½ x 8½ glass plate from the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/28/2014 - 12:23am -

Circa 1922 in San Francisco, this aging Chalmers touring car needs a new shoe. Since we're at the Maxwell-Chalmers dealer, why not take a look at the new models? 6½ x 8½ glass plate from the Wyland Stanley collection. View full size.
Maxwell is still with usMaxwell-Chalmers was having a roller-coaster year in '22, sales had been growing fast but bad word-of-mouth from some less than rigorous engineering, cash flow issues from the Chalmers merger, and the '21 recession all worked together to put the company in deep doo-doo.
Thankfully the board recruited a first-rate Automotive guy to turn things around, Walter Chrysler took most of his pay in stock options and had the finances solid enough inside a year that he could launch a new line with his name on it.
Hurry it up, boysLet the men replace the tire; she's got places to go!
Rose and fellThe 1922 Crocker-Langley city directory lists exactly one dealer for Maxwell & Chalmers autos, the Lou H. Rose showroom at 1230 Van Ness.
The printing of this directory must have taken place shortly before the ill-fated merger of the Maxwell & Chalmers companies. Perhaps Lou Rose could see the end coming, because the 1923 directory contains no entry for Rose's showroom or any other Maxwell dealer.
Also, the survey of Van Ness Auto Row buildings makes no mention of Rose or 1230 Van Ness.
This touring cardates from about 1913. Chalmers, located in Detroit, made quality cars from 1908 to 1923. Pictured below is a restored 1913 touring as well as a 1922 ad similar to the one in the dealer’s window.
Would you guys get on with it!The expression on the face of the lady in the driver's seat says it all.
Right hand driveWhy is this vehicle right hand drive? Didn't they change from RHD to LHD in California in the 'teens? Maybe it was a pre-change over model car?
[It's a circa 1913 model. Cars of the era were a mix of right- and left-hand-drive. By 1920, most auto makers had settled on left-hand drive. - Dave]
A Rose By Any Other NameRose's automobile business remained at the same location in 1923.  In the 1923 Crocker-Langley City Directory the business is simply listed as "Campe-Rose Co 1230 Van Ness Av" without a marque name.  The next year Rose's name is missing from the listing with the business shown as "Campe Geo 1230 Van Ness Av" in the city directory under the heading "Automobiles."  
Prior to the Chalmers Dealership the address was occupied by Steven G. Chapman's automobile business in 1914, and an Oakland franchise in 1915.  The Chalmers dealership is listed there from 1916 - 1922. 
Although the Chrysler dealership in San Francisco is shown on Market Street in 1925, in 1926 it is at 1200 Van Ness, in the same block where Rose's business was previously located.  The appearance of this building, erected in 1911, has been altered according to the Auto Row Survey.
The Auto Row survey's purpose was to list the surviving automobile related structures that are present in the survey study area.  I believe the survey fails to mention the 1230 Van Ness address because either the building that was there in 1922 had been torn down or the address was incorporated into an existing structure along the street and the address is no longer used.  Looking on Google Maps there are now only two buildings in the 1200 block of Van Ness on the even numbered side of the street.  
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, San Francisco, W. Stanley)

Arizona Motel: 1942
... branch. I would advise you not to stand (or park your car) underneath it. Introducing the 1941 Mercury Here’s an original dealer training film that details the features of the all-new Mercury line for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/11/2022 - 4:09pm -

February 1942. "Tourist court. Phoenix, Arizona." An early example of Desert Neon Noir. Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
Business trip ...Or family vacation?  Whatever it is, the photograph is great!  But what's puzzling me is the scrotum hanging on the crossbar to the right of the sign.
Going out on a limbI am loath to reveal such ignorance but where better to be set straight than here? WHAT is that disc-shaped (or spherical) thing hanging to the right of the neon sign? It appears to be inside (or outlined by) a cage-like (for lack of a better term) structure made of woven rope. Is it a nest or hive? It looks vaguely snakelike. And those are all the clues I'm going to give you.
[It is the counterweight on a neonized version of an old-school well sweep. - Dave]

Once again y'all do not disappoint. I would never in a million years have got that lid off on my own but would you have got it off if I hadn't loosened it for you? Just saying. I mean, just kidding.
Beautiful signI love the little detail of the 2 short neon tubes on the bottom of the sign that light up the AAA panel. 
Sign of a weighty matterThat big suspended ball to the right of the motel sign appears to be a counterweight holding the sign up. Why all that to hold a sign up?  Perhaps it was to apply a traditonal abobe-style way of holding a sign up, in keeping with style of the motel. If in fact that sign setup is in keeping with the adobe motif. 
Balancing Act?I'm betting that's a natural rock or poured concrete round boulder carefully tied and used as a counterweight for the motel sign. Pretty clever and a good use of resources.
Look out below!A counterweight to that neon sign, hung from a dead tree branch.
I would advise you not to stand (or park your car) underneath it.
Introducing the 1941 MercuryHere’s an original dealer training film that details the features of the all-new Mercury line for 1941.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05cUGrerGKs
Non-noir versionLet the sunshine in!

Still there -- sort ofIt's been remodeled and is now transitional housing. Better than being razed to the ground like so many other things in Phoenix.

Nice NeonSuch an evocative photo!  If only it could have been in color.
"Air Cooled"So is "Air Cooled" could mean airconditioning, a swamp cooler, or even a fan. I wonder which it was?
I'm impressedit lasted long enough to be remodeled and remodeling was chosen over demolition.  The remodeling is fairly recent; attached is a combined Google Maps photo showing before remodeling and Google Earth photo showing during.  It looked to be in pretty bad shape.
Click to embiggen.

Lit UpIn response to those desiring a colorized look, at the neon sign, my feeble attempt.
Glowing PraiseI really like the neon Shorpy!
Lone Snag MotelSeen here some 17 years later (both visible cars are 1959 vintage), the sign and counterweight are gone, but the dead tree still stands.

(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Russell Lee)

Grande Auto: 1958
A Kodachrome slide I acquired, showing a car dealer somewhere in Ontario, Canada, circa 1958. I've tried to find the exact ... 
 
Posted by 4allofyou - 12/28/2014 - 7:33pm -

A Kodachrome slide I acquired, showing a car dealer somewhere in Ontario, Canada, circa 1958. I've tried to find the exact location. Another picture shows the crossing with Eastville Avenue. View full size.
TorontoThere is an Eastville Avenue in Toronto. Runs south from Kingston Road to Bluffers Park on the shore of Lake Ontario.  Only cross streets are Kingston, Stoley Road, Barkdene Hills, Sunnypoint Crescent, and, possibly, Gradwell Drive.
I'll take the NashGreat to see these in their original, unrestored, unmodified condition.
It just has to be GM.Look at the lines on the rear door of that OLDS !!
Business planWe'll keep the black one and ship all the pastel cars to Cuba.
Canadians loved their televisionOutside of the beautiful cars, I'm struck by all of the television antennas in the background! 
Regarding the cars, my mom's first car was a little yellow Nash Metropolitan convertible like the one in the foreground.
Scarborough, OntarioI lived about a mile east of here on Shirley Crescent in the 1980's.  Back then it was a typical suburb with single family homes, shopping malls, strip malls, lots of gas stations and car dealers.  But if you were lucky enough to live south of Kingston Road the view of Lake Ontario from the top of the bluffs was quite beautiful.
Eastville AvenueThey still haven't invented  a time capsule to go back. The slide showing the Eastville Avenue crossing is now here. Thx guys.
Tuning inI don't think I've ever seen so many tall TV antennas in one picture before!
Love the Olds!The Oldsmobile means business.  Was it a Rocket V8?  I can't tell.
Love that 1957 Olds!I had a silver 1957 Olds Super 88 four-door during my college years circa 1975-1977. Seeing this one brought a smile to my face.
The car was very sophisticated in many respects and quite comfortable inside. 
It also had a lot of torque with a touchy throttle, which was due to having a four-barrel carburetor with four equally-sized large bores. 
(There was a version that had three two-barrel carburetors. I can only imagine what that was like!)
It was like sitting in a bay window and driving an apartment house.
Toronto Eastville Avenue and Kingston RoadSuspect the used car dealer may have been on the northeast corner of Eastville Avenue and Kingston Road.
The '57 Olds 98Is easily the hottest car of all those in view, especially if it has the optional J-2 setup with three two-barrel carburetors, giving it the magic for the '50s 300 HP rating.  When Consumer Reports evaluated the 1957 Olds 88, it said it was the fastest car they had ever tested up to that time with the exception of the Chrysler 300B.
And across the streetflies the red ensign, the flag I grew up with until 1965, I assume most of those TV antennas were picking up stations in the U.S.
Buffalo across the lakeIn Toronto in '58, local TV was one station: CBLT channel 6  operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. But with a good antenna you could get the 3 American networks from Buffalo across Lake Ontario: WGRZ channel 2 (NBC), WBEN channel 4 (CBS) and WKBW channel 7 (ABC.) As a kid in Toronto, I knew the names of all the neighbourhoods and major streets in Buffalo thanks to Eyewitness News :)   
Canadian TireBased on the clues, I'd say it is now the Canadian Tire store at Kingston and Eastville. The sign on the building says it's 3060, which works with Kingston Road. 
A couple of blocks east of the Edsel dealership?The car lot is long gone, but the church may be part of the current Joy City Church, near 3060 Kingston Road in Toronto. Love the Canadian Red Ensign (pre-1965) flag on the pole.
Saved-up NashI had an uncle by marriage who was on a different wavelength. He bought a new red-and-white Nash Metropolitan in the early 1950s, drove it to a storage building he had in Fernandina Beach, Florida, and stored it for many years. He had the thing on blocks and would start the engine once a week or so just to keep things from freezing up, I guess. The wheels were in a stack behind the car.
He thought he'd get rich when some collector would pay a fortune one day for a mint Metropolitan that was basically undriven. When he died in the early 1970s, I believe, the Nash was still in the shed. His family didn't know what to do with the car because at that time and in that place, it wasn't valuable. So they sold it for a couple of hundred bucks. Pretty car, though.
LocationAccording to this.
(ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)

The Car Bar: 1925
... is Dead. Morris Herson, 44 years old, an automobile dealer, died at his residence at 514 F street northeast. He is survived by the ... these guys a couple years ago The shift linkage of my car broke in the parking garage beneath the office building that now stands ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 2:17am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1925. "Northeast Auto Exchange, H Street." My favorite kind of National Photo photo, something that might be called unintentional-slice-of-life. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
One for the road"Alcohol for Automobiles" -- I'm assuming it's engine-related, and not driver-related!
Well, I triedAll I get at "www.d.c.comm" is "server not found." Shucks.
MethanolMethanol, or as they also called it wood alcohol or methyl alcohol, was used as an antifreeze to keep the engine coolant from cracking the block in cold weather.
[A potent poison as well. - Dave]
Morris HersonI wonder if that is M. Herson in the coveralls. According to the census, Morris Herson was born in Russia and immigrated to the States in 1895.  



Washington Post, Jun 4, 1929


Morris Herson, 44, is Dead.

Morris Herson, 44 years old, an automobile dealer, died at his residence at 514 F street northeast. He is survived by the widow and three children.

ContinuitySee the name M. Herson in the window? Now Herson's Honda in Rockville, Maryland.
And Now ...The 'hood had a smidge more charm back in the day. If it still existed, 62 H Street NE would be somewhere under this overpass near Union Station.
View Larger Map
Coulda used these guys a couple years agoThe shift linkage of my car broke in the parking garage beneath the office building that now stands where this garage once was.
On second thought, they probably didn't carry any VW parts anyway.
LaterThe Hersons owned Manhattan Auto in Bethesda, where in the 1950s, you could go and ogle the spiffy Jaguars, Porsches, and various other future classics then go across the street to Giffords for a really classic banana split!  That's why they're called "the good old days"!
Turning left.When I was a kid, in the 60's before turn signals were common on motorcycles, we all signaled our left turns with a gesture identical to this fellow's.
Alcohol for AutomobilesMethanol (wood alcohol) was used as an antifreeze for the car cooling system, but it gradually boiled off and had to be replaced. There were testing devices, similar to the bulb-type battery testers, that could be used to tell when the alcohol needed to be topped off in your radiator in order to remain effective. 
Eventually wood alcohol was replaced by "permanent" antifreeze, usually made with ethylene glycol. This is normally dyed fluorescent green, and is what comes to mind when we think of the term "antifreeze" today. Both types of antifreeze are poisonous.
As a big bonus, the ethylene glycol based antifreeze also facilitates the cooling function of the radiator. Those of us over a certain age will remember car radiators "boiling over" when driving in hot weather or climbing mountains. Those days are long gone, thanks in part to modern antifreeze/coolant!
To remember which alcohol is the drinkable kind[A potent poison as well. - Dave]
To remember which alcohol is the drinkable kind: "Ethyl can't drink methyl."
Hersons of InterestSurprisingly, at least to me, the later Manhattan Auto Inc.  and still-existing dealerships, were formed by a completely different Herson family: three Lithuanian brothers who emigrated circa 1914. Robert Herson (1892-1975), founder of Herson Auto Parts & Glass. David L. Herson (1896-1959), president and owner of Manhattan Auto Inc.  Nathan Herson (1906-1971), president of Herson's Auto stores in Washington and Rockville.
The Herson familyMorris was my uncle.  David Herson was my father.  Morris' sons were Mitchell, who became a dealer for Kaiser Frazer, and Abe, who worked with my father and later me at Manhattan Imported Cars.  Abe was head of Jaguar service in the sixties and later was a Jaguar salesperson at Manhattan in Rockville.
Nathan Herson, another uncle, was the Herson of Herson's Honda, not Morris.  Nathan's son Gerald is the current CEO of Herson's Honda and Mitsubishi, both in Rockville.
ResultsIsn't it interesting how my memory of Manhatten Auto could bring such results.  All appreciated; good memories of Manhatten Auto on Wisconsin Avenue and of Mr. Mann who worked there. Thanks to J. Herson, as well.
This is one of the joys of Shorpy; a comment can be expanded  or corrected by others.  So it is often a valuable learning experience. 
[Today's lesson: There's no "e" in "Manhattan." - Dave]
A strong personIs Morris Herson, if that is indeed him in the coveralls.  He looks like he could have bench pressed that car in his prime.
Five decades laterHere's a sidelong view of that building (looking almost due east along H St.) in the late 1950s. In 1974, it would be demolished for construction of the overpass rerouting traffic over the Union Station tracks.
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)

The New Chevrolet: 1957
... usually stored in the trunk until final delivery by the dealer. Could this have been an exception here just for the Look magazine ... that nice, but it behaves well enough for a 55 year old car. Orange & turquoise That station wagon would blend in perfectly ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/06/2014 - 12:53pm -

October 1957. "Assembly line with 1958 Chevrolets." 35mm Kodachrome by Phillip Harrington, one of 1,200 photos taken for the Look magazine assignment "GM's 50 Years of Men, Money and Motors." View full size.
Rain test?The first two vehicles are all wet, and maybe the third. The rest are too far out of focus to tell.
Is there some sort of "rain test" along the assembly line? Or did they just bring these cars in from a wet parking lot to stage this photo?
Wood BlockFord's Buffalo Stamping Plant in Buffalo, New York, also has a wood block floor.  At least it did have when I retired, after 31 years, 2003.
New For "58Mr Mel, I had a Impala the same color as your convertible  in '79 at the age of 17. Purchased from "the little white hair old lady" in Burbank for $400.00. 283, two barrel carb,oil bath air cleaner, a cast iron "Powerglide transmission. Sold it to a buddy for $200.00, still regret it to this day. A few months later I bought a '48 Oldsmobile "76 Dynamic Cruiser" for $700.00. But missed my '58 Impala.
I like all year Chevies and everybody has there favorites.
As the former owner of a '58 Olds "98" the Chevy was conservative. But this is what I love about Shorpy, these types of photos of a time that was, and never to be again.
PS... I'll drive off the line in that wagon right now. lol 
SerendipityThis design was originally to have debuted in the '57 model year.  When tooling problems surfaced, the '56 was hastily face-lifted and became the '57 model -- now venerated by many collectors as the most desirable Chevy ever -- while this design was pushed ahead to become the '58, a model generally held in much less aesthetic esteem.
[I question the accuracy of this narrative. - Dave]
This is a story I've read about in several sources, but the only ready reference I have is Wikipedia, which generally corroborates the story.  A more reputable reference awaits my opening more book boxes, so barring a savior somewhere out there in Shorpyland, I guess I'll just have to endure the scorn of your skepticism. 
Classic!I will take that first blue one.
North TarrytownCould this be the old GM assembly plant just north of New York City?  The cobble stone floor indicates an older facility.
58 ChevyI'd take anyone of those. I'm thinking the 1958 model (dual headlights) wasn't as desirable as the 1957 model but they still look awfully good.
How I miss the days...Back when cars had real color. The top, upper body, and lower body were all different, not to mention ample chrome accents to add even more eye appeal. Today's cars are monochromatic blobs. Even the bumpers are just part of the body, with the same color.
Harley's follyThe 1958 GM line was the beginning of the end for Harley Earl. He had been the golden boy of the design department since the 20's, but the '58 models seemed proof that he had lost his mojo. By '59 he was gone, to be replaced by Bill Mitchell.
OrangeCould the curious orange band at the top of the photo be a strip of gel placed in front of the lens to diminish the glare of the fluorescents? 
Mr Mel aka Mr LuckyI bought a new '58 Impala Convertible while I was still in the Army. It cost $2600. The downpayment was my '51 Chevy 4 door Deluxe. The payments were $72 monthly. My father made the payments until I came home and started making enough to handle them. He was one great guy. The attached a 1959 photo, is of my then new girlfriend and now my wife of 53 years, sitting on the boot covering the downed top. 
Wood floorsThe floor is wood blocks placed on end so the grain shows and sealed.  Kind of like industrial butcher block. I've seen it in WWII vintage factory floors.  There is concrete under it.
HubcapsThe hubcaps were usually stored in the trunk until final delivery by the dealer. Could this have been an exception here just for the Look magazine photographer? There is a rack containing cardboard kick panels next to the station wagon. Seems a bit late in the line to be installing them. I hope you will post more photos from this series.
The cobblestone floorIs more likely wood block, common in auto plants of the era.  By the way, I'll take the ragtop.
Color ErrorI can recall tri-tone colors on the cars of the '50s, but I believe the 'turquoise' top on the wagon is actually white and colored by a film processing error. Note that the red paint surrounding the side windows is considerably bluer near the top.
[The red and blue appear come from strips of colored gel positioned a few inches in front of the lens, thus the soft edges - note the gradient on the cardboard carton. -tterrace]
That's possible, or the effect could have been added while making the print. It's a good rule in photography to get a clean image first and modify it in the darkroom - or these days, in the computer.
[This isn't a print, but a direct scan of the 35mm Kodachrome slide. -tterrace]
I stand corrected.
Mine is greenI drive a two-tone green Brookwood wagon, like the orange and white one in the center of the photo. Its condition is not nearly that nice, but it behaves well enough for a 55 year old car. 
Orange & turquoiseThat station wagon would blend in perfectly at Howard Johnson.
57 vs 58Well, I must be in the minority. I would sooo much more want a 1958 (especially the new Impala!) than a 1957. Yeah, the GM 58's were Harley Earl's swan song, but what a swan song. Almost baroque with detail, dripping chrome, lavish interiors.... the pinnacle of late 50's auto design to my eyes.I know Bill Mitchell's cars sold better, but to me, he didn't hit his stride until 1963.
[I agree with you about the '58. -tterrace]
Wow.  A '58 Nomad.The Nomad shown has a C-series paint code (two-tone, roof and lower molding area same color), in Cay Coral and Arctic White.  We don't know if it's a V-8 (1800 series)or a 6 cylinder (1700 series), but we know it weighed roughly 3700 lbs and cost approx $2800 (factory price, BTW).  It was produced in 11 different plants, so it's really impossible to tell if it's Tarrytown, NY or not - without seeing the VIN number, of course.  There were 42 different combinations of engine-trans-carb you could order.  The engines were the 6 cyl (235HP), a V-8 (283HP) and V-8(348HP).  Trans were 3-speed, 4-speed, power glide, turbo-glide and overdrive.  Carbs were 2 bbl, 4 bbl, and fuel injection - and the very rare engine that came with 3 two-barrel carbs.  Those are pieces of wood on end for the floor.  Here in Detroit, all of the old auto plants (the ones still standing anyway) have this flooring.  I was just in the old Cadillac Stamping Plant in Detroit on Connor at Gratiot, and the floor is really amazing in itself.  Almost 100 years of grease and oil have soaked into that floor.  If the walls could talk.
[The wagon is a Brookwood, not a Nomad. -tterrace]
Factory TourThis takes me back as an 8-year-old in June/July ,1958, Flint Mich. where we were on vacation from Quebec visiting Dad's cousins. My father took me on a tour offered by GM of the Chevrolet assembly plant there and I was awed by the sight of bare frames to finished Impalas in 90 minutes, coming off the line every 90 seconds. That was the "high tech" of the era.
I also remember returning to Dad's 56 Chev after the tour in a downpour, only to find a flat tire.
Engines & PaintThe comment on the engines was incorrect, "235" is cu. in. Not horsepower, the same goes for the other two V8's also. Someone commented on '50's tricolor cars, GM did not do this, Chrysler Corp. was most apt to paint the three color schemes.  My father bought a '58 BelAire, very nice car. 1958 Chevrolet was a 'one year only' design, must have cost them a fortune to produce this design for such a short time, they must have been making a TON of money in those days. Mr Mel sure had a beautiful Impala and girlfriend!
The first two cars are Sierra Gold and Desert Sand, I think. The top of the wagon is the same shade as the bottom. (not light blue)
The one year 1958Dave, I too question the accuracy of the '57 being a last minute replacement. It would just not be possible on short notice to get all the tooling and parts in place, and the '57 was seriously different from the '56  - fenders, grille, bumpers, trim, it could not have been pulled together quickly.
The short life of the '58 model was likely due to Chrysler's new 'Forward Look' styling introduced in 1957. In fact it was Chrysler who dumped a whole design and moved ahead to what they had planned for a few years later. The '57 GM cars looked very stodgy compared to the long, low, yet light-looking Chrysler products. They looked like they could fly (almost). GM moved very quickly and probably left behind their 58 designs which might have been the basis of the next couple of model years at least. 
Sort of a shame, the 58 Chevy was a really beautiful car.
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Detroit Photos, Factories, Phillip Harrington)

Hudson Motor Cars: 1911
... "in period"? Enough! How many more pictures of DC car dealerships are we going to have to suffer through? Squeeze me. I ... is evinced. More Heritage My dad was an automobile dealer all his life. I practically grew up in showrooms and used-car lots in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 10:39pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1911. "Hudson cars, H.B. Leary agency, 1317½ 14th Street N.W." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
Keep the Cars Coming!I love the pictures of the cars! Where else can we see such detail of these cars "in period"?
Enough!How many more pictures of DC car dealerships are we going to have to suffer through?
Squeeze me.I bet kids found those horns irresistible as they walked by parked cars.
Great Scott!I looked and looked, and then my wife noticed: These are all right hand drive cars! Why???
99 years and still on the roadHere's a 1911 Hudson, snapped at a car show in Concord, North Carolina, April 10th, 2010. Its body style (touring car) is like the one visible in the storefront window. This was only the third year for Hudson production.
No Hupmobiles?Five spiffy Hudson models in a row and not one Hupmobile!  I owned a Hudson myself for over 40 years.  They were good cars (obviously).
Great historical car photographI love these vintage car photos. They are as much about our history as the architecture behind them. This photo just got copied into the Hudson folder in my digital car collection.
memo to 8:28Hey Anon at 8:28 - some of LOVE pictures of old cars.
If you're "suffering" - GO SOMEWHERE ELSE !!!!!!
What's wrong with cars?What's wrong with pictures of cars? Besides, they're neighborhood pictures. At least around here, we no longer have laundries on the scale of the Star Laundry next door. Quaker Oats isn't a surprise, but some of the store-side ads are. Some products are a lot older than you think.
Please keep to the LeftThere was no requirement for left-hand steering in those days-- but Henry Ford switched from right to left in October 1908 as his Model S gave way to the Model T, and he wound up with enough sales volume to influence the trend. By about 1914, most or all the US cars had settled on left-hand drive.
[In 1914, many if not most American cars used right-hand drive. Even in the early 1920s some manufacturers were still using RHD. - Dave]
Seriously?These dealership photos are beautiful. Americana at its finest. Keep 'em comin'.
Anyone know where Star Laundry might be?I see eight signs in this picture. Wow.
Star LaundryThe Star Laundry building is still there, relatively uncannibalized, at least above the first floor level.  At street level, it is now the La Villa Restaurant, a take-out fajitas and taco joint. The buildings on either side, including the Hudson dealership, have been "updated" beyond recognition. No way to tell if the buildings behind the faux siding are even the same as what was there in 1911. The Star building is holding up well though.
View Larger Map
My HeritageAs the scion of two generations of hand laundrymen, I understand the importance of "We mend your linen." If the customer didn't know his sheets were torn, the storekeeper took the heat. Sometimes they would be beyond repair and were returned unlaundered.
As for "Regular Pkgs 10¢" -- my grandfather opened his laundry on Market Street, on the Lower East Side, in 1910. Unfortunately, he died in 1935, so I'll probably never know if he ever got as much as a dime for a bundle of wet wash.
In any case, notwithstanding the disapproval of Automobile Dealership Americana, this is one great photo.
Left and RightEarly cars had right-hand steering because the brake lever (which was hand-operated), gearshift and horn were on the outside of the car. Since most drivers were right-handed, they had to sit on the right to reach them.
Car displayWhat I find so interesting about most of these car photos is that the cars are displayed on the street.  The businesses were storefronts rather than stand-alone car lots.  I suspect this is the case since cars were rare and most probably had to be special ordered. I wonder when the stand-alone lots became the standard mode of car sales.
Bring on the Detroit DealershipsI can't wait until you feature MORE early car dealerships. Bring 'em on!
8:28: What a Party PooperI love the old auto dealership photos. Why should 8:28 complain? There are also old buildings in the photo.
I propose that a right-hand drive auto be driven over the foot of 8:28 until a more reasonable attitude is evinced.
More HeritageMy dad was an automobile dealer all his life. I practically grew up in showrooms and used-car lots in the 1950s and 1960s.  I love these shots, keep 'em coming!
Times have changedThat Hudson dealership is now a gay bathhouse. 
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)

The Shopping Center: 1954
... couple of '48-'51 Studebakers. But not one example of the car that my dad has told me on many occasions was "the first new car I ever ... survive? No Chinese carry out, no rent-to-own appliance dealer, no trendy coffee shop, no dollar store. Basic Black Not a one of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/18/2013 - 9:36pm -

Sept. 27, 1954. Smithtown, New York. "Smithtown Shopping Center. General view." Meet you at Play Mart in an hour. Gottscho-Schleisner photo. View full size.
Newborn babyI love to see pictures of the world I was born into!  This was taken six days after I was born. My parents drove an Oldsmobile back then, just as it appears that many of the shoppers in this parking lot did.
My warmest regards to the 48/49 Willys Overland “Jeepster,” parked in front of the Wilbur-Rogers store, proudly wearing her spare tire on the aft end.
A couple of other observations. The "new" postwar Studebakers were actually introduced in 1947, styling courtesy of Virgil Exner. Studebaker and Kaiser got the postwar styling jump on the rest of the industry that year, with Hudson, Cadillac, Tucker and Oldsmobile following in 1948. 
The Ford identified as a 1949 is very likely a 1950, as evidenced by the frontal wrap around chrome parking light assembly, visible over the bumper with a bit of enlarging. 
I know. Picky, picky.  
What, no '49 Fords?I see a couple of '48-'51 Studebakers. But not one example of the car that my dad has told me on many occasions was "the first new car I ever saw". I can't remember the first new car I ever saw, any more then my 20-year-old niece remembers the first time she saw a computer (a realization that popped into my head when I first saw her web-surfing at the tender age of fourteen months, the week that Richard Nixon died).
But my dad was born in '41. There were no new cars during the war, and no new cars for a few years after. It was a seller's market, so Detroit offered warmed-over '42 models through the '48 model year. So my dad was eight by the time he saw a truly "new" car.
Except Studebaker had a new model in '48. I'll have to ask him about that.
[Here's one. -tterrace]
This is not Beverly HillsI guessed that it was 1950 or 1951 from the cars I saw, 80% of which are from the forties. Definitely not a high-income area. 
Outstanding That wonderful Ford "woody" wagon. A lost art.
No "there" thereJ.C. Penney's is the only store visible in the picture that still exists.  It's now located a few miles to the east at the Smithaven Mall.  
While Bohack's and the other pictured stores are no longer around, downtown Smithtown has *never* existed in a legal sense even though everyone uses the name.  Technically speaking, the name Smithtown denotes a township encompassing a number of distinct communities, and the downtown is properly called "Village of the Branch."  The number of people who actually call it Village of the Branch is approximately zero, give or take a few. 
Here are some then-and-now pictures of Bohack's locations and some of the chain's old advertisements:
http://placesnomore.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/bohack/
Gap between buidlings is goneGap to the right of woolworth's is gone. Here is an aerial view using bing's bird's eye. The back of the building shows different color bricks behind the narrow strip in Ace Hardware. Bohack was quite a store in its time. Started in 1887 and folded in 1977. The early years they had service stations and restaurants besides grocery stores. It's bankruptcy was one of the largest in that time. 
The VehiclesA quick count shows approximately 43 cars, and one delivery truck. No, I won't (and can't) identify them all! But it is interesting to note that of the 21 I can figure out, there are: 10 Fords, 2 Oldses, 2 Studebakers, 2 Chevys, 2 Pontiacs, 1 Chrysler, 1 Jeepster, and 1 Buick. Apparently no foreign vehicles. The newest car looks like a 1954 Ford, while the oldest is a mystery make from the late 1930s. One of the most interesting cars is the 1947 Chevy convertible, with what appears to be someone's plaid tablecloth serving as a replacement ragtop.
That Woody!I'd love to have one like that!  
No Crumple ZonesBack in the 1970s, I worked at a gas station, actually pumping gas and checking oil. An elderly lady would come in occasionally in her early 1950s Chevrolet. It was quite a chunk of metal. Leaning against the fender was like leaning against a brick wall.
Ragtop, anyone?What an amazingly high proportion of convertibles (and a Woody Wagon, too)! Ford, Chevy, Plymouth and Pontiac, to name the obvious ones. How about that wild, plaid top on the '47 Chevy? It was probably a replacement, after seven years.
Funny that they are mostly all parked on the same row, and not the closest one to the stores. That looks like a Jeepster under the "Wilbur" sign.
As a side note, I love the baby shoes hanging from the mirror of the Buick in the foreground!
[The car is an Oldsmobile. - Dave]
A '49, it seems—just making sure you were on your toes, Dave!
I likeThe baby shoes hanging from the rear view mirror. Must have been a fad back in the day.
East Main Street and Lawrence AvenueSome clues suggest that this is the same shopping center today (with a facelift that did little to enhance the original facade).
View Larger Map
"Air-Conditioned"Love that '50 Stude with the fender vent open.
Bohack'sA supermarket chain so eminently forgettable that I hardly remember I used to shop there.
Don't pass on the right!Can anyone suggest why the arm on the passenger-side mirror (if that's in fact what it is) on the Oldsmobile in the foreground is so long? And wouldn't it be a hazard to other vehicles?
[Trailer mirror. - Dave]
How did they survive?No Chinese carry out, no rent-to-own appliance dealer, no trendy coffee shop, no dollar store.
Basic BlackNot a one of these cars has white sidewall tires. Our cars never did either. It wasn't a case of poverty. My father could afford it. He just thought decorations on tires were a waste of money. They cost $2 more and got the same wear.
Only the signs are differentOtherwise, this could have been the Village or Gateway Shopping Centers in Beaumont, Texas, or Jefferson City Shopping Center in Port Arthur, all of which made their debut in the mid/late 50s and still looked a lot like this when I was a kid.
We Were Way BehindIt was the mid-70's before I saw a shopping center like this. Actually it was partially a mall (also the first for me). A K-Mart on one end unattached then an anchor store (can't remember the name, but several have been in the location) which was connected by a big hallway to several small shops and a theatre. On the other end an unattached Kroger store. Later on they closed the big hallway and made it a strip mall or shopping center. When I was a kid, we did all our shopping on the Main Streets of the various small towns in our area. A big day was going to downtown Huntington, WV. In 1980 they built the Huntington Mall (actually next to the Interstate at Ona, WV) and on my first trip to it in 1981 I saw the first reports on the Reagan asassination attempt on a TV in a shop window. I don't care much for malls and stay out of them as much as possible. They don't offer much for men. I miss walking down Main Street.
1949 FordThe '49 Ford that tterrace pointed out might also be a '50 Ford. They were almost identical. 
Open windowsThree cars in center of photo have open windows. Can't do that anymore!
A Driver at 3 ... or 4 .. sort ofOur family had a Ford wagon very similar to the one parked.  It was "maroon", or burgundy in modern terms.  Some of the wood got dry rot about 1955 or so and my dad replaced it.  Wood was kind of a pain to maintain.
 I remember telling the model years apart by the hood ornament style and grill details.  The '49 had an airplane motif hood ornament, while the '50 had a chrome and plastic concoction that looked like a Mohawk haircut.  I think the '51 had two 'spinners' in the middle of the grille, and am certain the '49 had one.
 That was the same model that I backed out of the garage by repeatedly pressing the starter button... Don't have a clue how I planned to get it back in place to avoid discovery.  Then again, I was not even of kindergarten age.
 Did anyone note that a lot of cars are parked with their windows rolled down? Not many had A/C back then, and they got hot.  Now days it might be difficult to find one that allowed in fresh un-conditioned air.
tom
My hometownActually, I grew up here. My elementary school is directly behind this shopping center. It's always been an upper-middle class town despite the older cars you see. Very cool to see an old pic. I remember as a teen in the 90s, I'd love seeing old pics of Smithtown in the library and banks. Remember, this is metro NYC, so we were always a little ahead of the times. 
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gottscho-Schleisner, Stores & Markets)

Crumple Zone: 1955
... ending injuries with the amount of cabin intrusion the car had. The 2008, to quote a current Subaru commercial "they lived", actually ... to be damaged. We had a '53 Roadmaster bought by my Buick dealer dad and after about the 3rd replacement (they are model specific), he ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/06/2015 - 4:28pm -

Oakland, California, circa 1955. "Wrecked Buick." A 1953 Super convertible. Long before airbags, there were collapsible steering columns and dished steering wheels. And before that, there was this. 4x5 acetate negative. View full size.
Bring on the Accident Photos, Dave!Knowing what we have in today's automobiles in terms of safety equipment and features, it astounds me as to how I survived as a kid in the 1950's, riding untethered in the front seat of mile-long 1940 and 1957 Dodge automobiles. Getting into low speed fender-benders meant going to the doctor to get stitches in your forehead. Happened to me twice! Mom throwing her arm across my body did absolutely nothing to keep me from kissing the unpadded dashboard.
"Unsafe at Any Speed"?The 1953 Buick was one of the case studies that Ralph Nader discussed in "Unsafe at Any Speed." The power brake systems on the '53 Buicks had a tendency to fail completely due to faulty o-rings in the master cylinder. GM did not issue a recall, but had dealers fix people's brakes as they came into the shop. I wonder if that may have been the culprit here.
Signal 30Interesting picture. I hope this sort of thing will not become a trend, here on this site.
[Avert your gaze and walk this way to the fainting couch. - Dave]
I am a combat veteran, 1st Battalion 1st Marines Delta Co. RVN 67-68. After that, I became an embalmer. I've seen it all, Dave
Circa 1955, not 1958The crumpled front license plate is a style used from 1951 through 1955, 14" wide, with black background and yellow numbers. From 1956 through 1962 the plate was 2" less wide (same size as today) and was yellow with black numbers.
[Right you are. - Dave]
Not MeIf I should ever develop a time machine, I know enough now to not drive in Oakland during this era.
Ventiport EnvyIn that time period, Bob Hope used to comment, "I have to go home and drill holes in the fenders of my Chevy, so everyone will think I'm driving a Buick."
That's going to leave a markThe displaced steering wheel kept her out of the windshield but, OUCH!
Glass Half FullGood thing they didn't scuff the whitewalls.
Very interestingI love the old crash photos. Keep them coming. Although a bit morbid they are fascinating.
Looks like the windshield wash fluid is still all foamy from the wreck. I'm thinking this wreck happened not long before the picture was shot and definitely before the ambulance arrived. The girl appears to possibly out cold or maybe even deceased. If not she blinked as the picture was taken. 
How HandyHow many times have you said that you could've used an extra hand?  Apparently Mr. Law & Order never said that, since he comes fully equipped.
That woman was very lucky to have survived.Usually the driver would have been speared through the chest by the steering wheel. 
Road tripThis somewhat grim series of photos gives me the feeling Weegee took a trip out west for a busman's holiday.
Iron HorseConsidering that Buick probably had a monster cast iron straight 8 inside the engine compartment that is quite a bashing - and the lamppost didn't move an inch.
[The "V" hood ornament and hubcaps advertise the fact that propulsion was supplied by Buick's new "Fireball" V-8. - Dave]
Really?Did this Buick hit that light pole? That's an awful lot of damage and not a scratch or dent on the pole. I also think it would have stayed wrapped around the pole and not bounced back. So the extra hand is a back seat passenger(?). My father in law used to always say "they don't make um like they used too" And I'd always follow up with "Thank God" Even with their size and girth these old cars are not as safe as say a Camry these days. There's a great video on the web of GM offset crashing a 1958 Impala (first year) with a 2008 Impala. The crash test people in the '58 suffered life ending injuries with the amount of cabin intrusion the car had. The 2008, to quote a current Subaru commercial "they lived", actually with minor injury.
[Actually a 1959 Bel Air. - Dave]

Way too handy.That extra hand there is really a puzzle. I can't see any way there could be another person hidden behind the officer nor is there any way one could be a reflection. I'm just a bit baffled.
[Note that there are two officers wearing caps. The feet of the second officer are behind the curb of the median the first officer is standing on. -tterrace]
Sound sleepersNot one person turned on house lights or were peeking out of the windows to see what all the noise and lights were about.
Starting off on the Right FootI remember the first time I tried to start a Buick of this vintage. No starter button on the dash or floor, no start position when you turned the key. With the ignition on you press down slightly on the gas pedal and bingo, it starts.
Me tooAs a longtime, devoted fan of your site, I want to respectfully agree with Horace Walter. These pictures seem a little grim. Not your usual aesthetic.  
The Round Buick Grille Medallionin the center of the cross-bar between the parking light surrounds is the most vulnerable part on the front of the '53 Buicks--this was Buick's 50th anniversary and it was supposed to be the image of an '03 Buick but was discovered the be an '04 after production began, and is always the first part of the front end to be damaged.  We had a '53 Roadmaster bought by my Buick dealer dad and after about the 3rd replacement (they are model specific), he finally gave up.  On this car, it is virtually the only part to come out unscathed!
Who Ya Gonna Call?Because of a failure to avert gaze I'd like to know if they called a doctor or the morgue.
InjuriesThere's something nasty on her face.  One can only dread what's out of view.  And her closed eyes indicate unconsciousness, pain, or worse.
So that's how they crashI used to own a car exactly like that, but a hardtop, not the convertible. I sometimes wondered what it would look like in a crash. Now I know. I'm glad I found out from a photo, not in person. 
Super Duper Iron HorseThis was the beginning of Buick V-8s. The vestigial straight-8 would remain only on the '53 Buick Special and would be history come 1954. 
Posts: An American MenaceIt's the 1950s.  We live in an era of unimaginable technological advancement and widespread prosperity.  But we have yet to address the greatest threat to the American way: roadside posts.  Every year, roadside posts (apparently) kill thousands of our countrymen.
Signal 30 FanCertainly more riveting than dressed-up kittens.
PassengerI believe the woman is actually sitting in the passenger seat. The seemingly superfluous hands must belong to the driver who is slumped against the side behind the rear edge of the door opening, concealed by the gendarme.
[As pointed out earlier, there are two officers in the shot, one behind the other; the extra cap, as well as hand, belong to the one behind. -tterrace]
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Signal 30)

Golden Rocket: 1957
Columbus, Georgia. "Oldsmobile dealer." The Golden Rocket 88 Holiday Sedan for 1957. 4x5 inch acetate negative ... Roof lighting You might think there's a used car lot up there, but it's actually the spaceport. Fast Car My parents had a 1957 Olds Super 88. My cousin and I were riding in the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/10/2015 - 10:40am -

Columbus, Georgia. "Oldsmobile dealer." The Golden Rocket 88 Holiday Sedan for 1957. 4x5 inch acetate negative from the News Archive. View full size.
Shoe optionTwo-tone to match the paint? Yes please!
Roof lightingYou might think there's a used car lot up there, but it's actually the spaceport.
Fast CarMy parents had a 1957 Olds Super 88.  My cousin and I were riding in the back seat with my dad driving.  We looked up to see what my dad was up to and saw that we were going over 110 mph.  As I remember, I think that slowed him down.  I don't believe Missouri had a fixed speed limit in 1957.  The good old days.  
All bricked up...when they built the viaduct over the rail yard, I would guess.  Close inspection of the building through the vegetation on the right matched the  1957 photo. Last used as a Mitsubishi dealer.
 
"8" SpeechA phonetic "phooey":
A Deal You Can't RefuseC'mon down, folks.  If you buy this little number today, I'll include this futuristic space-age antenna.
Rusting ALREADY?Is it my imagination or is there already rust on the back door? I see a spot with streaks below it just ahead of the rear wheel!
[Pontiac had its Silver Streak; Olds had the Brown Streak. - Dave]
13th and 5thThis is the northeast corner of 13th street and 5th Avenue in Columbus.  The construction of the 13th street bridge took its toll on this deco building. I believe it became Rustin Oldsmobile around 1962.
The upper level was for extra parking (still is) and for showing new models as well.  I remember driving by there for years and seeing shiny new cars perched on the edge of the abyss. 
[Who can tell us the name of the dealership in 1957? - Dave]
Rucker OldsmobileIn 1956, it was Rucker Oldsmobile Inc., 1300 5th Ave., TEL 3-7313, according to Polk's City Guide for Columbus (Muscogee County) Georgia and Phenix City (Russell County) Alabama. With apologies to the Rustin family, the 1962 name change to Rustin Oldsmobile was an unexpected gift for local punsters and other comedians.
Consumer ReportsConsumer Reports bought a 1957 base-model Golden Rocket 88 in 1957 and remarked that with the exception of the Chrysler 300, it was the most powerful car they had ever tested--not surprising when you consider how recently these brands had been virtual puddle jumpers.  
In prior years, both the Super 88 and 98 had the same higher compression engine with a four-barrel carburetor with a lower compression two-barrel in the base 88.  However, in '57 in an attempt to gain back some of the performance lost to the very powerful Pontiac and Chrysler 300, all Oldsmobile series were equipped with the same 371 cubic inch four-barrel setup but with different axle ratios--3.07 for the base model, 3.23 for the Super 88 and 3.42 for the 98.  The only engine option was the three two-barrel J-2 setup available for about $75 in any model.
BumperThe front bumper makes it look like it had collagen injections for the "bee-stung" look.
Hardtop StylingBack when there was enough steel in a four-door car to toss out the B-pillar and roll down those windows for some real open air driving. Sigh. I had a 1965 Imperial LeBaron a few years ago that had no B-pillar. That small, missing detail really made rolling down the windows a liberating event.
[There's generally more steel in cars now. The four-door hardtop, introduced by GM in 1955, took quite a bit of engineering. The roofs, however, tended to collapse in rollovers. - Dave]
ObscureThanks, Dave, it has taken me two days to find that pesky "phonetic phooey"!  That's the fun of Shorpy, finding noted details.  I can rest easy tonight!
98 RocketHad a girl friend in high school whose mom had 1957 98 four door sedan with the J2 option.  When asked why, she replied, "Because it's fast!"  
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Columbus, Ga., News Photo Archive)

Ford Factory: 1954
... Fords in the parking lot! Back when American/Canadian car companies built good cars, their employees drove the cars they built. ... car to survive. That way, a small town with a Ford dealer could sell Fords, Monarchs (disguised Mercurys) and from late '59 ... 
 
Posted by Angus J - 02/26/2012 - 7:35pm -

My father took this Kodachrome in Ford Plant 1 in Windsor, Ontario, in 1954. The history of Ford here goes back to 1904 when Model Bs and Cs, and later Model Ts, were built in this complex. The plant was located right alongside the Detroit River at Riverside Drive East and Drouillard Road. The two storey building in the foreground was built in 1912 as office space, and as Ford expanded more offices were installed in the buildings behind. This is where my father worked in management. To see a present day view click here. A photo by the Detroit Publishing Co. of this area in 1914 can be viewed here, and here is a story on the demolition in 1969. View full size.
When I was a kid in highWhen I was a kid in high school (Lowe Tech) I used to bus past this place every day.  Good to see it again.
All of the cars are Fords in the parking lot!Back when American/Canadian car companies built good cars, their employees drove the cars they built. 
NiceThanks, Angus J, those are some nice-looking cars. Fabulux and pointed into the future.
Fords & MeteorsThose three red sedans may look the same at first glance, then you see important trim differences. The car on the left is definitely a Ford while the two on the right are Meteors, a separate make built to allow Canadian Mercury dealers to cover the full price range.
Before the 1965 Auto Treaty there were strong tax incentives for domestic content in Canada, this led to a whole range of unique Canadian variants from all the manufacturers.
[Meteors were Ford equivalents; the Canadian version of the Mercury was the Monarch. - Dave]
Any color you want, 1954 styleAny color you want in 1954 as long as it was red? Geeze that is a nice set of wide whitewall matched Fords (in 3 colors) all parked in the sunshine. 
This can't be the holding lot for shipping assembled cars because they would have a mixture of models and options and these have licenses.
I wonder if this is some kind of executive fleet. With the job you got a Ford to drive and they picked the model, options, and colors. 
Red is a tough color to matchSo I've been told.
Uncle BobMy uncle, Bob Horseburg, worked in the office here as well. When Ford opened its new Oakville, Ont. assembly plants many jobs were transfered there. One of them was his. The Ford Motor Co. was a huge part of Windsor.  When Ford chose Oakville as its new Canadian centre , the city was devastated, and still hasn't recovered.
I'm a Ford brat tooMy father began his 40-year career with Ford as paymaster at the Somerville, Mass., assembly plant in 1928. He was promoted and transferred so often that I went to five different schools in six years!
Dang it!That's the third time this week I've tried to unlock the wrong car! 
The middle red car just might be a Meteor Niagara and is so different from the Ford on the left (2 small peices of chrome) otherwise undistinguishable from the plain looking Ford.
1954 Ford of CanadaInteresting that some '54 Fords built in Canada had 1953 Ford dashboards in them and some had the older flathead engine of 1953 instead of the 1954 Y-Block engine.  Mr. Ford didn't waste a thing!
Not that it matters nowBut to clarify in a general way, in Canada Monarchs were upscale Fords, i.e. Mercurys, and sold at Ford dealers. 
Meteors were Ford's regular line slightly disguised and sold at Lincoln Mercury Meteor dealers, themselves few and far between and needing an inexpensive full-size car to survive.
That way, a small town with a Ford dealer could sell Fords, Monarchs (disguised Mercurys) and from late '59 Falcons, covering off everything but Lincolns. The ads showed Ford-Monarch-Falcon as the dealer branding.
Clear as mud? Well, nobody, not a soul I ever knew, cared but the dealer associations, I can assure you.
(ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses)

Motor Check: 1924
... the name on the tire cover, was only a Studebaker dealer for about two years. The cover is interesting because it appears to ... as the Truxton truck attachment. This device converted a car into a truck by means of a replacement rear axle and frame extension ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/28/2013 - 12:10pm -

Washington, D.C., 1924. "Havoline Oil Co." Participants in the "Wasson Motor Check" at the Texaco Station on the corner of Florida Avenue and 14th Street. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
Just Love It!Nothing more to say.
Dynamometer granddaddyThis must be the grandfather of all chassis dynamometers.
Checking it outThe fellow with the cigar in his mouth is in charge of checking for gasoline leaks.
Quiet Please!Man sitting in window on the right to his wife: "It's hot, there's no AC, and with this window open all we hear is those motors running. We gotta move!"
BoardwalkerThe fellow with the cigar could be cast as one of Nucky's Atlantic City  henchmen.
BHPFigures could top 50 BHP back in this time.  Why bother?
Excellent, Lo-Tek motor condition checkThey're checking the level of "blow-by" gasses. Modern cars (since 1965 in Calif) re-burn these fumes via the PCV system. In those days, a draft tube spewed them into the air.
Higher readings = worn piston rings and/ or valve seats.
additional symptoms: Heavy blue smoke & power loss.
Solution: Overhaul.  much less expensive in those days.
With the inferior oils & metallurgy of the day, overhauls could come every 10,000 miles or so. These guys & their device could give you a pretty good idea how much longer your motor would last.
Tired"John R. Pendleton," the name on the tire cover, was only a Studebaker dealer for about two years.  The cover is interesting because it appears to have been designed to fit a variety of tire sizes (note the extra snaps near the top).  In addition to being a Studebaker dealer circa 1923 - 1924, he was a Nash dealer in 1926.  Two of his advertisements from D.C. city directories are below.
Pendleton was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia in 1888 to Robert and Sophie [Rust] Pendleton.  He was a chauffeur and machinist before becoming involved in automobile repair by 1914 until around 1917.  His first stint at selling vehicles was with Standard Auto Service Company where he sold Federal Trucks as well as the Truxton truck attachment.  This device converted a car into a truck by means of a replacement rear axle and frame extension (picture below).
Where he worked between his year or two of selling Federal Trucks and the time he began selling Studebaker's isn't clear.  After he stopped selling Nash cars, he was employed by Studebaker Corporation of America in their D.C. office before he moved on to selling cars at Wallace Motor Company in 1929, which sold Nashes, in the District for a couple of years.
The 1930s saw him back in the auto repair business, operating a gas station, and a five year run as the superintendent of an apartment building which continued into the early 1940s.  By 1942 he was working at a mortgage and real estate firm that belonged to his uncle Harry Lee Rust.
Eventually he and his wife Marie moved to Florida where she passed away in 1971.  John Pendleton apparently moved back to the D.C. area, and he died at the age of 88 in Maryland in 1976.
Free CheckProminent in some advertising was the fact that the Wasson Motor Check was free.  While the test may have been free, the cost of the oil was not for the customer.  You also needed to make two visits to the check station.  The first visit was to have your oil changed and to make an initial test of your engine and record the results.  Approximately 200 miles later, you needed to return and have the engine retested.  The card below shows sample measurements after the second test.
Period documents state that the Wasson Test Stand was leased to the service station/garage.  In addition to measuring gas leakage past the cylinders mentioned by "zumma" below, it also had a still for measuring oil dilution, and a flow meter for measuring gas consumption.  A close-up of one of the gauges, which was made by the same company that made the MotoMeter radiator temperature gauges, is shown in the Shorpy photo is below.
More details of the Wasson Check Station can be found in a November 15, 1924 Petroleum Age article here, and the patent is here.  At the same Petroleum Age link there is a short summary of how the whole system worked on page 55 of the August 15, 1924 issue, as well as more details if you search the issue for "Wasson."
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Gas Stations, Natl Photo)

Genuine Ford Parts: 1925
... glass negative. View full size. First Lincoln Car for the White House Calvin Coolidge brought his own 1923 Lincoln with ... today I visited the parts department of our local Ford dealer (Auto Plaza), and other than the old car and fresher parts, the scene is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/15/2020 - 3:04pm -

January 1925. Falls Church, Virginia. "Makely Motor Co." Home of this circa 1923 Lincoln. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
First Lincoln Car for the White HouseCalvin Coolidge brought his own 1923 Lincoln with him to the White House when he was elected President.
Ford Weekly PurchaseAccording to the great Google's results, the Ford Weekly Purchase essentially let you prepay for a car, quite the opposite of financing these days!
http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/ccc1923%20%28E%29/issues/04...
Also, it seems that a genuine Ford battery would run you over $200 in 2009, that seems a bit steep to me...
Then and nowJust today I visited the parts department of our local Ford dealer (Auto Plaza), and other than the old car and fresher parts, the scene is still the same. I'm going to print this and give it to the manager of the parts department. Thanks for a glimpse of what it would be like if I went there in the '20s.
Lots of Now Valuable Parts!That parts department is chock full of desirable parts, especially that model T radiator with the winter front shutters. Probably brass.
Could be worseThese run about $2500.00
Be right backSee the desk under the window -- that's where the salesman sits until he says, "That's such a low price I'm offering you, I'll have to check with my manager."
NOS Parts!Well, maybe not New Old Stock, but New Stock!  All those new parts on the shelves would probably bring pretty big money if you could transport them to today's eBay and auto parts swap meets.
That's also a pretty pricey new battery for 1925.  That could be around $200 in today's money depending on what calculation you use.
Alarming Ford Prices$16.50 for a battery?  You could buy a new Model T for $300!
Expensive BatteryAccording to an inflation calculator online, $16.50 in 1925 had the same buying power as $205.96 in 2010.
Parts, not the carMaybe genuine parts, but the car is not a ford. Not sure what brand it is, but someone will chime in.
[Or maybe someone will read the caption under the photo where it says the car is a Lincoln! - Dave]
Nice face on that LincolnWhat a great thing to have parked next to your desk!
Good HousekeepingTry as they may, in those 1920s showrooms they couldn't stop the cars from leaking oil or the customers from kicking the display cases.
PinupsWhere is the stack of wall calendars with scantly clad gals for each month?
Handy extraction toolsOn the right side of the parts area there are two items hanging on hooks. One looks like a giant tin can key opener and the other resembles a hand drill. I'm guessing both are used for changing spark plugs out. 
Where in Falls Church?I live in Falls Church. Do you have any additional clues as to where this was located?
["East Falls Church" is as specific as it gets, at least in the pages of the Washington Post. The proprietor was one Richard Lee Makely. - Dave]
It is [not] a PackardAttaching a photo of a 1923 Packard. Check the bumper.
[As noted in the caption, the car is a Lincoln, with LINCOLN on the radiator. The Biflex bumper was a popular accessory that fit many cars. - Dave]
Object Identification HelpHi!  Can anyone help me identify the rectangular/oblong object that is displayed in this accessories showcase?  I think it is a metal can/canister like item with two lids/valves and a leather handle. I've seen these items before, but I don't know what they are called.  Thanks for your help!
[It's a battery. -tterrace]
THANK YOU! - SHSU
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Natl Photo)

A Lot of Cars: 1950s
... picture by noting the date of manufacture of the newest car shown here. I am almost sure that this parking lot was in downtown ... cars. There's a 76 station (O'Neill Bros.), and a Chevy dealer. I think it won't be long before this picture shows up on the Hemmings ... 
 
Posted by motobean - 01/15/2014 - 3:57pm -

This photo is from my father's trip to Northern California in approximately 1950.  I am hoping that someone who knows cars can come up a more precise date for the picture by noting the date of manufacture of the newest car shown here.  I am almost sure that this parking lot was in downtown Sacramento, but it could have been in San Francisco. View full size.
A good year.After "scanning" this scene, I would guess late '54 or early '55. I see a '55 Buick at the service station and a lot of '53 and '54 models. Wasn't it just great when you could spot the make and model of a car from this distance? Whoops, I'm showing my age.
Odd LotSo if you choose a row that's full, you have to leave the lot, drive around the block and try a different row?
Possibly 1955Possibly 1955, based on a couple of light blue Ford station wagons in the last row on the right.  Lots of early '50s cars.  There's a 76 station (O'Neill Bros.), and a Chevy dealer.  I think it won't be long before this picture shows up on the Hemmings Daily blog.
http://blog.hemmings.com/
Frisco or SactoI'm going with Sacramento; streets lined with tall trees are more like the state capital.
Yellow Cadillac convertibleIn the leftmost row, a 1954 I believe.
Note: No Beetles The absence of VW Beetles in a California parking lot suggests 1955/6 at the latest. I bought a 1954 in 1957 and they were all over the place by then.
13th & LThe O'Neil Bros. service station was at 13th and L streets in Sacramento. Also I see a green 1955 Ford.
Another vote for 1955There is a coral-over white 1955 Pontiac in the third row from the left, under what looks to be a guard shack on top of a pole!
[Yes, although I believe that's Corsair Tan over Mist White. -tterrace]
"The coldest winter I ever spent"was not in a city with palm trees.
[Well, even though Mark Twain never said “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco," here's a photo I took last winter in San Francisco. -tterrace]
I stand (actually sit) corrected.
Sacramento historyThe site of that pretty Spanish-style 1930s gas station is now the boxy, 1970s-era Community Center Theater.  It's nice-looking inside, although the acoustics are bad.  I love old photos of my town.  Got any more, motobean?
Capitol ChevroletCapitol Chevrolet was at K and 13th.

As mentioned earlier, the address of the O'Neil Bros. Auto Supply and Super Service Station was on L at 13th.  Built in 1921, it was the first of at least six O'Neil Bros. stations. 

'55 Buick?Parked just to the right of O'Ne(il?) Bros. service station at top center.   Tough to tell if it's a '55 or a '56.  
Sacramento The large light-colored building in the left background, Capitol Chevrolet, can be seen in the companion photo posted by motobean a page or so prior to this.  In that picture, "Checkmate: 1950" the Capitol Chevrolet building can be seen in the extreme right background.  A comparison may assist motobean in pinpointing where his father took the earlier photo in Capitol Park, just out of view to the right of the above photo.
License PlatesWide black license plates with yellow (or gold, as some say) characters indicate 1955 or earlier.  In 1956 CA went to the narrower six-character plates in yellow (gold) with black characters.    
One Way StreetsAlso, Sacramento went to one way streets downtown sometime around 1950 and you can see that L is one way in this photo.  The Community Center Theater occupies the gas station site today and the Chevrolet dealership gave way to the new convention center complex.
Edit:  L looks one way here but then the parked cars on the far/south side seem to be facing east.  Maybe L wasn't one way yet.  
My mom and dad were married in Sacramento in 1955 while attending the University of Nevada Reno and dad drove a 1952 MG TD.  They came down to Sac, where mom's parents lived, a couple times a month on Highway 40 in the MG and said that at times that trip could be pretty treacherous.  Dad graduated and worked for the Sacramento Union newspaper in the late '50s, lived on Watt Ave out near McClellan AFB, then the family moved to the bay area when he was hired by the Oakland Tribune in 1960.        
Just peek inside. Corvette!Dad bought our brand new Chevy Bel Aire four door in March of 1955 in that building. V8 with a Power Pack, 182 horsepower! PowerGlide too. Traded in a 1953 Dodge station wagon. 
When we first saw our new one, we walked inside past those two side doors and they had a Corvette parked inside between the big doors. Instant love for a 14 year old. I remember the salesman told my dad, "Capt., we can hardly get rid of them" as I stood there and drooled.
Thank you for the photo and allowing to post my memory. I will always remember that new car inside that first big door on the left. We were stationed at Mather Air Force Base and lived at 7216 Eagle in Fair Oaks, a suburb of Sacramento. House is still there but I bet they sold the Vette.... I agree, early 1955.
The dead giveaway to 1955 The blue '55 Olds sedan in the top of the photo accompanying Dave's "13th & L" comment. I don't see anything newer.
[That could also be a 1954 Oldsmobile, so it's the Ford that's definitive. - Dave]
Dave, I don't see the '55 ford...I think I DO see a couple of pale blue '55 Dodge sedans (kinda like this one) in your blowup with the blue Olds at the top... 
Parking Lot ID'dI grew up in Sacramento in this period. Having worked for Weinstock's department store (fresh out of high school in 1973) I can attest this is the Weinstock's patron parking lot directly across from the store on 12th Street. That same lot was one of my work assignments as a gate-keeper/payment-taker for a full year.  
That's L Street at far right and Capitol Park further in, behind the long row of palms.
(ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)

The Banquet: 1920
... are now on the market, Chester Warrington, automobile dealer and H.S. Omohundro, tailor, yesterday told the Civitan club at its ... many drivers merely drop their arms on the outside of the car, no matter what they intend to do. This sort of signal, he said, means ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 10:15pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Civitan Club." Caught in the middle of the soup course. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
Carrot soup?So few of these gents are bespectacled that I am wondering if the carrot soup truly aids the eyesight. I can't imagine a group of this style today with such a minimum of visual aids.
ClassyThe two guys up front wearing spats.
So formalThe spats are spiffy!
Back SeatThe two guys without black or white tie seem to be relegated to a separate side table.  I guess they just didn't know how to dress for the occasion.
!!!Ring Ring!!!Wonder if the phone jangled during the proceedings?  It wouldn't go to voicemail, that's for sure.
DifficultI can't find anyone in the picture that seems pleased to be there.  But I do like the design of those chairs.
Duck!Reminds me of the Louisville Slugger scene from one of the mafia movies. I believe it was 'Capone' or the like.
CaponesqueI love a man in spats!
And at the kiddies' tableMaybe they were banished there for showing up out of tux. After all, there ARE two empties inside the horseshoe next to the head table. Presumably those two no-shows were powerful enough to warrant choice seating and our two lads were not. At least they weren't told, "No soup for you."
So which is it?Is this a white-tie affair or black-tie?  Apparently the invitations weren't specific and assumptions were made.  Thank goodness the gents in front remembered their spats.
And what's up with the two guys off to side?  They look quite a bit younger and they are not in Evening Dress - maybe that is the Civitan Children's table. 
Farewell dinnerThe massive floral arrangement at the back of the room would have me peering over my soup plate wondering if a casket was hidden in there.
Civitan Club Luncheon Minutes

Washington Post, Feb 24, 1922

The Civitan club held its weekly luncheon at the City club yesterday.  E. Barrett Prettyman won the attendance prize.  Ernest Greenwood announced that a hat will be given the member who produces the best slogan for the club.  Robert Armstrong, president of the National Press club, was speaker.




Washington Post, Mar 10, 1922

Better and cheaper automobiles and clothes are now on the market, Chester Warrington, automobile dealer and H.S. Omohundro, tailor, yesterday told the Civitan club at its weekly luncheon at the City club. Three-minute talks by members featured the meeting.
I.L. Goldheim, haberdasher, said that once again men are getting quality clothes.  Ira La Motte, manager of the Shubert-Belasco theater, told the club that Washington was the only bright spot in a disastrous season for theaters throughout the country.  Oliver Hoyem, connected with the publicity department of the American Federation of Labor, and Dr. Grant S. Barnhart, physician, also spoke.




Washington Post, Mar 13, 1922

The Civitan club is strongly opposed to the recent action of the board of education authorizing the use of branch libraries in the public schools by white and colored children indiscriminately, President Rudolph Jose announced yesterday.
Resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the club describe the action of the school board as "vicious" and detrimental to the interests of both white and colored.




Washington Post, May 19, 1922

Work has been started on the new additions to the Civitan camp, it was announced yesterday at the weekly luncheon of the Civitans at the City club. It will be decided during the present week the exact time that the camp will open to receive poor children of Washington.
Dr. S.M. Johnson delivered a short talk on the necessity of completing the Lee highway, citing the great help and money the road would bring to business men of this city.




Washington Post, Sep 8, 1922

Future plans for the "Ladies' night" entertainment, on October 12, were discussed at the luncheon of the Civitan Club in the City Club yesterday, Charles Crane is chairman of the committee on arrangements. It was decided to visit the Baltimore Civitan Club on September 22, at which time a special golf match between the local club and Baltimore will be held. Chester Warrington is captain of the Washington club team. A report of the camp, which closed last Saturday, was read and approved.  Rudolph Jose presided. 
The club will meet Thursday night in the City Club, instead of in the middle of the day.




Washington Post, Oct 27, 1922

Stricter observance of the regulation regarding the signals to be made by motorists at the street intersections was urged by C.J. James at the luncheon of the Civitan club yesterday at the City club.  Mr. James asserted that many drivers merely drop their arms on the outside of the car, no matter what they intend to do.  This sort of signal, he said, means nothing, emphasizing definite signals required by law should be used. 
C.H. Warrington declared that pedestrians should be regulated as well as motorists. He declared also that the proposed reduction of the automobile speed limit to twelve miles an hour would cause great congestion in the business district.




Washington Post, Dec 26 1922

The Civitan club will hold a luncheon meeting at 12:30 today at the Lafayette.

The ShiningWhere are Lloyd and the caretaker?
Japanese LanternWhat are those suspended boxes?
Civitan ClubsMy father, Fred T. Massie, was very active in the Civitan Club of Dallas. They were a civic group, which meant they did things for the good of the city. Such as provide for orphans to go to camp. They met once a month at the Adolphus Hotel. Most of the powerful men in Dallas were members of "The Civitan." It was a way to give back to Dallas. 
My mother, Mary Massie, was involved in "The Ladies of Civitan." I remember going to the Christmas meeting with her. We had lunch and then put Christmas stockings together for needy children.
I don't know where this picture was taken, but there were Civitan Clubs in cities all over the nation.
[As noted in the very first word of the caption, this was taken in Washington. - Dave]
Young clubAccording to Wikipedia, Civitan was organized by a group of men in Birmingham, Alabama in 1917. These men broke off from a local Rotary club, because of differences they had with the direction they perceived it was going. Civitan is very active today and still headquartered in Birmingham.
FormalwearIt's amazing how little the style of tuxedos has changed in the past 90 years. 
Oh, sorry, wrong banquetIt was too late for apologies. Machine Gun McGurk and his Thompson had spoken.
Japanese lanternsThey are light fixtures -- thin brass or some other gold-coloured metal frames with lacquered paper or parchment fillers and painted designs.
Black tie vs. White tieWhat this picture shows is the gradual replacement of traditional white tie formal dress by black tie.  At this point in history, the invitation would probably have simple said formal, or, I suspect, it would not have made the designation at all.  The attendees at a function like this would have automatically known what to wear.  Events like this would have seen a mix of white tie, with a sprinkling of black tie.  The tuxedo, as we know it, was first worn around 1890, as a more casual form of formal dress for men (I know, an oxymoron.) At this time the dinner jacket would be worn with a black waistcoat.  Later on the cummerbund became more popular.
A few more interesting details here:  there is one man with a white tie and a black vest.  This would have been much more common in the late 19th century, but was definitely passe, but not proscribed, by 1920. The variety of collars and ties among the black tie wearers is also interesting.  With white tie you only wear a stand up collar and white bow tie.
The black dinner jacket (aka tuxedo) admits a greater range of acceptable collars and ties.  Two gents in the front have interesting lay down collars with some sort of criss cross tie that doesn't look like a standard bow tie.
And of course everyone knows that an outfit like this is NEVER worn before 6.  Before 6 (really up until 4) a gentleman would wear a cutaway coat (tailcoat with tails that curve away in front, as opposed to the sharp right angle of the white tie tailcoat), with striped trousers, a gray vest and a cravat.
BTW, I DON'T think those are spats.  I think those shoes have patent leather on the lower part and calfskin on the upper part.  But I'm not sure.  True spats would show a strap under the sole of the shoe.
(The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)

Galaxie 500: 1964
... in May, which makes it as old now as the Model T touring car in the background of the showroom. My car is unrestored and perfectly ... started makin' Mustangs! I cruised the local Ford dealer regularly as my license was burning a hole in my pocket. Newly minted, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/21/2016 - 5:47pm -

June 23, 1964. "Ford showroom in Wheaton, Maryland." 35mm negative by Warren K. Leffler for U.S. News & World Report. View full size.
My Galaxie 500 TodayI have owned this 1966 Galaxie 500 since September 1997. It just celebrated its 50th birthday in May, which makes it as old now as the Model T touring car in the background of the showroom. My car is unrestored and perfectly driveable, and was purchased from the original owner. Galaxie 500s that survive today are but a mere number of the thousands that were produced.
Got my license the day they started makin' Mustangs! I cruised the local Ford dealer regularly as my license was burning a hole in my pocket.  Newly minted, it was my key to freedom.  I remember seeing the first Mustang, $2368 base price, FOB Dearborn.  Shipping to Indianapolis was $53.  There was also an original Cobra, I think with a 289, fenced off from lookie-loos, with the oddball rear facing shift lever. A drag-race version of the Ford Custom 2-door, with heater, radio and rear-seat delete options, in whitest-of-white made an appearance also.  It had a 4-on-the-floor and a 406 under the hood, and black sidewall tires.  Carpet?  Ha, rubber floor mats did the job just fine.  Compared alongside the 4-door hardtop next  to it, a Galaxie 500 with front bucket seats and a floor-mounted Cruise-O-Matic shift lever, it was a stripped wasteland.
 The new 'feature' of the 64 full-size models was the dual-action lower A-arm front suspension, which allowed the wheel to 'kick back' when it encountered a pothole.  Most were replaced when tire wear became a factor.
 When winning NASCAR races became problematic with the T-Bird style chopped roofline, a fastback model was rushed into production.
Cushy comfortI always thought the old large sized bias-ply tires looked sharp. 
Easy breezyBack when you could work on your own car without a need for an engineering, and computer specialist degrees! 
The 390 and the 406 enginescould never keep up with the 409 Chevrolet power plant. Running the single 4 barrel carb the 409 was a beast.
The Tin Lizzie in the backgroundwas at that time about the same age as the cars in the showroom are today, but look at how much progress had been made in that same number of years.  By contrast, the '64s could still look at home on any street and compete in virtually any contest with a modern car in creature comforts and performance if it had the optional 406!  There were no flies on the 390 either.
Never a 64 and thats not the "half" of it!The Mustangs went on sale in April of 64 but were always classified as 65 models.  Over the years the early 65's have picked up the 64 and a half designation but they were always 65's to be accurate.  
So much room under the hoodYou could sleep one adult and two children!
Later in 64The salesman is wearing a Mustang emblem on his jacket so the picture is after April 64 I would guess. 
Fords GaloreI’m not a “car guy” at all, and even I can spot a few interesting items here!  At least two Mustangs lurk in the background, as the salesman wears a blazer emblazoned with the Mustang logo (first year they were offered, right?).  There’s also a Thunderbird back there, and then outside, or in whatever the next space beyond the showroom glass is, there’s a Christopher Helin-era car getting some attention.
Ah, the GalaxieMy first car was my Grandpa's '67 Galaxie 500, with a 390 engine in it, affectionately called "The Slimemobile".
Fun to drive, for a boat.
I used to like to Armorall the back seat, take my friends for a non-seatbelted ride, and take the corners hard.
Good times.
Not so fast...Regarding VictrolaJazz’s comments regarding the degree of improvement in cars from 1920-1964 vs 1964-2016, I respectfully beg to differ.  Straight line 0-60 time is only a tiny part of the whole picture.  More important things like reliability, durability, drivability, functionality, and especially safety of cars didn’t improve as much from 1920 to 1964 as they have from 1964 to 2016.
Galaxie fastback roofIt was actually introduced mid-year 1963.  tomincantonga is correct in that it was for aerodynamics and racing.  These Galaxies were called 1963½ models and it was the first half-year model introduction ever.
Also, that stripped Custom 1964 would have been a 427, as that engine replaced the 406 partway through the 1963 model year to take advantage of NHRA and NASCAR maximum engine size of 7 liters.  It was rated at 425 HP with two four-barrel Holley carbs.  No doubt, this was a conservative rating.
My first "decent" car after getting married was a 1964 Galaxie hardtop coupe.  It had the little 289 V8 engine.  With a little tinkering I found that I could get around 19 mpg on the road by advancing the ignition timing and using premium gas.  With the timing set for regular gas the mileage (and power) would drop to about 17 mpg.
Kraft paper on the windowsThough ours was a GM family, after they stopped making DeSotos, I was fascinated by the Ford Mustang. I remember our school bus driving by the Ford dealer in Houma, Louisiana, and seeing the windows covered in Kraft paper. Mysterious and tantalizing! A few of us rode our bikes there one Saturday to see whether we could sneak a better look, but were given the bum's rush.
My friends and I--all of whom were too young to drive--would bring our Motor Trend and Car and Driver magazines to school and discuss all the new cars that were coming out. I thought the Camaro was the most elegant design around but the Olds Toronado was, to me, the most beautiful American car ever.
I was so upset when, in spite of my pleading, my mom bought a new '67 Riviera GS. 
Just like my father's car.Flashback to my post over 4 years ago with my late father's '64 Galaxie 500XL you can see here.
Hill & Sanders It's the showroom of Hill & Sanders Ford 11250 Veirs Mill Rd, Wheaton, MD
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, LOOK)

Good and Bad: 1941
... size. Lost tradition It's been years since a used car dealer was that honest. Which is which? I think the BAD user car ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/24/2020 - 3:25pm -

March 1941. "Bedford, Virginia." Would you buy a used DeSoto from these men? Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
Lost traditionIt's been years since a used car dealer was that honest.
Which is which?I think the BAD user car salesman is the guy on the left.
Looks like funMaybe I wouldn't buy a car, but I'd definitely have beer with them.  Or two.
But guess who would pay!
A town that sacrificed greatly in WWII.Bedford was a town of about 6,000 residents in 1944. On June 6, D-Day, the invasion of France at Normandy, 20 young soldiers from Bedford were killed on the beaches. This was one of the highest loss rates of any town in America during the war. Three more soldiers from Bedford were killed before WWII ended. Today Bedford is the home of the National D-Day Memorial.
Honesty is the best policyGlad to see these guys are upfront with potential customers. 
Cars and StripesWell, surely the bad salesman is the one clearly guilty of the criminal act of wearing a striped tie with a striped suit.  Incidentally, it's worth wondering whether there was an available salesman who was GOOD enough to unload that ugly-duckling Airflow lurking in the garage.
Truth in Advertising1941 Style! The guy in the long coat is undoubtedly carrying a tommy gun under that coat and his partner next time surely has a snub nose .38 in a should holster under that suit coat.
Good Versus BadWho makes the call?  Looks like the boys are ready to flip on it.
The Good, the Bad and the Not so BadSometime around 1970 or so, there was a used car dealer in Houston styled Mediocre Motors, the signage rendered in a most appealing font. It was my intent to pay them a visit at some point, as my motor vehicle at the time could only aspire to mediocrity. Alas, they slipped away Bobby McGee-like and I was left with that wistful longing for "what might have been". Next time, I pledged to be quicker to pounce.
While the cars may be good and bad. At one time, the sugar wash moonshine was best in county. 
In the market?Never buy a used car from a rakish hat.
Bad used carsSometimes, bad is good.
My first car was a 20 year old VW Beetle, rusty, bad engine, worse brakes. I spent way too much money and time working on that thing, but it taught me two things: I learned a lot about how a car is put together and how the various systems work, and I learned how to deal with a "less than perfect" car when my brake job failed (emergency brake and downshifting saved me then, as it did forty years later in a friend's car). 
I later sold it for what I'd originally paid for it. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw it two years later, apparently none the worse for the wear, parked at my state college. 
Our slogan"Oh.  Guess you got a bad one."
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Small Towns)

Bedroom Beautiful: 1956
... seven-bathroom, 7,300-square-foot bungalow built by Texas car dealer Earl Hayes. 8x10 acetate negative by Maynard L. Parker for House ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/02/2015 - 1:47am -

1956. "Hayes residence, Kessler Lake Drive, Dallas. Master bedroom. Architects: Prinz & Brooks." Our first  look at the seven-bathroom, 7,300-square-foot bungalow built by Texas car dealer Earl Hayes. 8x10 acetate negative by Maynard L. Parker for House Beautiful. Source: Huntington Library. View full size.
Visual confirmationSo it was true married couples slept in separate beds back in the fifties?? 
GunsLooks like a gun cabinet over the TV.
[That's a mirror. -tterrace]
Then there's what looks like a bolt-action rifle with scope reflected in the mirror. And I say the dress is white and gold.
Ashtrays on the nightstands even though you're not supposed to smoke in bed. Or maybe so you can stub out your butt before turning in. The footstool offers a comfy place to sit while you fiddle with the TV controls, in those pre-remote days.
2 GunsScoped bolt-action rifle, AND, a pump-action shotgun.
It could as easily passFor an upscale motel or hotel room of the era with the acoustical ceiling and recessed lights.
Mid Century Modernism...at its best. Prinz's own more modest home is a jewel-box, too.
Cold?I don't think so.
Just because it lacks Grandma's gaudy floral patterns and knick knacks all over the place, doesn't make it cold, but it does need to be in color to really see how beautiful it is.
I would change the Peg Board ceiling though.
The TV (note my user name) is a 1956 or 57 RCA, 21" "Transette" model with large casters to allow it to roll out of the cubby for viewing; it looks like it has the Limed Oak finish.
It's still there, and even largerThe house is still there, with a living room addition built in the 1970s.  Pocket doors and built-ins are used throughout the house, which was designed for longtime Chevy dealer Earl Hayes.  The 7,301 square foot house is at 718 Kessler Lake Drive, in the Kessler Park neighborhood in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas.  It was one of the homes featured on the Preservation Dallas tour last fall:
http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/headlines/20141017-3.ece
Humanity leaves its markThen as now, the nagging problems of civilized culture: how to avoid footprints on the shag. (Far superior to telltale vacuum cleaner tracks, though!)
Two or One?My parents always had separate beds. Married in 1944, it was the thing to do, then. I appeared in May of 1946 and have never married, hence for me one bed is adequate.
Cold StorageWow, this has all the warmth of a frozen food locker.
Telescoping pocket doorsare still popular in high-end homes today.  If you look at the ceiling you'll see all three sections slide across for the first third of the distance, two for the middle third, and one for the final third.
Lamp on rightMy parents had a couple of lamp bases similar to this one.  They were made from obsolete rollers used to print wallpaper.  I thought we had the only ones in existence, but it must have been the fashion at the time. 
Not a mirrorI believe that's a gun cabinet. Crossed in the opposite direction is a pump shotgun. Neither would reflect this way (bolt handle,and lack of ejection port) in a mirror. It's just smoked glass or a trick of light.
Mystery objectsSomeone please, please tell me: What are those things on the wall above the beds?
[Decor. -tterrace]
(Maynard L. Parker)

Sleigh Ride: 1940
... they'd be installed. Bumpers must have been put on by the dealer at the destination. They managed to cram only 3 (possibly 4?) cars on the truck. Is there a 4th car under the last one? Hard to tell. The tire mounted on the side must have ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/17/2007 - 1:39am -

February 1940. Automobile transport carrying new Buicks in Chillicothe, Ohio. 35mm nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the FSA. View full size.
Chillicothe BuicksMan, tell that guy to stop by my place and I'll give him 3X the sticker price on any one of those beauties.
[OK. Looks like you have to put the bumpers on yourself. - Dave]
Too exciting.That's my hometown! I love that you have a photo from there; the city is full of history, being it was the 1st capital of Ohio. Please post more Chillicothe photos!
Buick heavenOoooh God, give me one of those Buicks! 
Bumpers?At first, I didn't notice the missing bumpers. Must have left them off save space on the truck. You can see the holes in the front where they'd be installed. Bumpers must have been put on by the dealer at the destination.
They managed to cram only 3 (possibly 4?) cars on the truck. Is there a 4th car under the last one? Hard to tell. The tire mounted on the side must have been the truck spare.
[Four cars. - Dave]
BuicksInteresting that these long-ago cars looked quite elegant when they were new. 
Missing BumpersI'd noticed the same thing and can imagine that the bumpers were prone to pre-delivery damage when being loaded and unloaded from these driveaway haulers. Plus it would be cheaper to have a dealership mechanic bolt them on as opposed to a unionized assembly line worker. But it's surprising to me that the hubcaps are installed making them easy targets for theft.
I remember in the 60s and 70s that nearly any brand of car you saw on a transport truck would never have the hubcaps installed. I say nearly because if you saw a hauler full of new Cadillacs they would invariably have their wheelcovers in place. Cadillac was concerned enough with their image that they were willing to absorb some theft losses. And no doubt they didn't want their cars to be possibly mistaken for a more "ordinary" Oldsmobile or Chrysler, even when being hauled on a trailer or rail car.
[Back in those days bumper guards were a popular dealer-installed accessory. That may have had something to do with it. - Dave]
Honesty?Treefrog,
Maybe the people of 1940 were more honest than those of the 1960s & 1970s and didn't steal hubcaps off new cars, even Buicks. 
How far away from the Buick plant would you say that truck is?
[I think Buicks back then came from Flint, Michigan. - Dave]
TrailerThe two front cars are loaded on the "tractor" portion of the vehicle.  If you look under the second car you can see the tongue of the trailer hauling the rear two cars.
Merry Christmas to all!
BumpersSo, it looks like I'm not the only one who noticed that these Buicks were missing their bumpers.  I'm 61, but I guess that's not old enough to remember a time when cars were not delivered to dealers with the bumpers attached.
Peace,
OldHippieDude
Buick BumpersWhen automobile production was resumed after WWII, there was a series of strikes. The last union to settle was either the bumper manufacturers or the installers. The cars were shipped with 2X4 block of wood on the front and rear of the autos. If you saw a car with these wooden bumpers attached, you knew it was a new one and not some well kept 1941 model.So I guess that sometime after 1936 they were shipping new cars with the bumpers attached. 
Can ItBeautiful cars, but the carrier puzzles me.  How can the tractor and trailer pivot?  Doesn't look like they can.  Or should.
A lot of cars were made inA lot of cars were made in Cleveland, Ohio too, maybe they came from there.
StraddleExactly right, and that's what seems wrong.  Unless that car can bend around corners from the middle, I see problems!
[The solution to this riddle has already been submitted by a loyal reader below - Ken]
BuicksBuicks came from Flint, FJ Boutell hauled them well into the late 20th century.  The trailer pivots beneath the car directly behind the cab.
(The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses)

Thruway Lanes: 1956
... were a wild bunch. Fast forward to 2008...now I have a car and can go anyplace I want to, but where can I get great french fries? ... as of March of 2015, The Thruway Lanes is no more. The car dealer next door to them bought the building to expand, and shut them down. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/21/2008 - 8:35pm -

Bowling alley circa 1956. Next door: Fine dining at the Thruway Restaurant. Color transparency by Dmitri Kessel, Life magazine photo archive. View full size.
ColorsAside from the subject matter - the colors in this photo are absolutely stupendous. 
That Fifties FeelingLooking at this kind of place in the fifties brings back that old feeling. This was when a dollar was dollar, life was steady and predictable, and everything seemed so important and substantial. You just seemed to know your place in life and the value of things... where's my baseball cards?
An order of friesWhen I was in high school the bowling alley restaurant was the best place to go for great late-night french fries and a cup of coffee. With three or four friends you could probably spend $2. Leaving our Honda 50 scooters in the parking lot we were a wild bunch.
Fast forward to 2008...now I have a car and can go anyplace I want to, but where can I get great french fries?
Empty FishbowlI love the warm Flintstonian vibe of the bowling alley entrance, but that chamber of solitude on the left is the most depressing storefront ever.
Buffalo NYhttp://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1550+Walden+Ave+Buffalo...
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=r4j5bj8f1kp7&style=...
Maybe some Buffalonians will help ID this bowling alley.
A Hopper FeelMan, this place is hopping! It's pretty eerie.
 Cheektowaga Lanes, outside BuffaloThe building appears to be the Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga, New York -- 1550 Walden Avenue. The front entrance is to a mall-like area that leads to the bowling alley. In 1972, I worked as an Air Force recruiter in an office in that little mall area. There was also an Army recruiting office. All of us ate at the restaurant. Thruway Lanes was THE center of Cheektowaga. Anyone else have pictures of the Thruway Lanes in the 1970s?
Thruway ColorsThe colors are arresting, but I think they may owe more than a bit to the kind of red-shift fading typical of Ektachromes from this period.
Great French FriesUnfortunately you will never get great french fries again.
What made them so good was that they were fried in beef lard. The Health Nazis have taken away that particular pleasure along with many others. Smoke, drink and eat what you want and save Social Security from bankruptcy.
[You can still buy lard in just about any grocery store. So have at it. - Dave]
LardLard is from pork. Beef "lard" is tallow. I have no idea if you can buy it in grocery stores. McDonald's used to use it for their fries.
[It's next to Crisco in the shortening aisle at Costco. Think of it as spackle for the arteries. Lard is, by the way, the secret to really good pie crust. - Dave]

Lard AlmightyYes, when I worked in a bakery in the early 1990's, we used lard in our pie crusts and they were sublime. When we switched to vegetable shortening, they were still good but you had to finesse them more to get them that way.
I'm a LocalThe Thruway Lanes (as we locals call it) is now AMF Thruway Lanes. It is still there; among all the new shopping malls surrounding it you could hardly see it if you didn't know it existed.
I was just thinking about how good McDonald's fries used to be, yes they may not have been good for you but we all knew that. People are eating the new less fat ones, (which to me taste like and have the texture of sticks)!
Back in the early 70's the local FM radio station (97 ROCK) used to have a contest of the best McDonald's fries around. The franchise at Clinton & Ogden always came up the winner!
[Where's "there" -- Cheektowaga? - Dave]
Thruway Lanes cont'dOops, sorry, yes Thruway Lanes is still in Cheektowaga, N.Y. (a suburb of Buffalo, about 25 minutes from Niagara Falls). You would take exit 52W of the NYS-90 to get there.
I can clearly remember the smell of the place. Nothing like a bowling alley to bring back a lot of childhood memories. I still have friends who bowl on leagues at the Thruway Lanes!
[Thanks for the info! You know what would be great? A current photo taken from the same angle. - Dave]

LardoWhile at the local Kroger, I found that even Pillsbury commercial pie crusts are made with lard - and they proudly proclaim "No Trans Fats!"  My wife is firmly in the lard camp, as well - flaky, delicious crusts every time.
Lard? Never!Aunt Chick would tell you that butter is the secret to perfect pie crusts -- of course, her non-stick rolling pin cover and pie pans wouldn't hurt, either. When I moved into my first house, I found several small cookbooks left behind, including a well-buttered copy of "Aunt Chick's Pies." My first two pies? Perfect!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettie_McBirney
[Still, try lard. Another really good cookbook: any 1950s edition Meta Given's Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking. - Dave]
Dream fontDoes anyone know the name of that typeface? This is a very special photograph -- just solid, but lonely and moody, too. I used to dream about places like this when I was in the Peace Corps. I wanted to be in Cleveland -- in a bowling alley. Never mind that I had never been in Cleveland nor in a bowling alley.
Way late to this partyI grew up a couple miles from Thruway Lanes.  They did have good fries (crinkle cut if I remember correctly).  I was closer to the Airport Lanes though, and that's where I belonged to a league.
A sad lossI'm sad to say that as of March of 2015, The Thruway Lanes is no more. The car dealer next door to them bought the building to expand, and shut them down.
(LIFE, Sports)

Lukens Lake: 1956
... early 50s (used Chevy tail lights with chrome insert) Car ID The fourth car from the left seems to be a Kaiser or a Henry J, ... business after WWII, when cars were scarce. The biggest dealer was in California, a franchise owned by the promoter Earl "Madman" ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 7:59pm -

"Bath house at Lukens Lake near Peru, Indiana. July 1956." 35mm Kodachrome transparency. View full size.
I'll Take a Shot At IDL to R: 49/50 Ford; 49/50-51 Buick, 49/50 Ford, don't know, a Muntz Jet maybe?, Pontiac Wagon, early 50s (used Chevy tail lights with chrome insert)
Car IDThe fourth car from the left seems to be a Kaiser or a Henry J, probably the latter which was also sold by Sears--think they called it the Allstate. The one on the right looks like a '56 Chevy wagon.
A near-forgotten model from American automobile history.The car with fuel stain by the gas cap (next to the Pontiac) is '51 (or so) Kaiser-Frazier Henry J. You can almost make out the script above the license plate.
49 FordThe car I learned to drive on was my dad's old blue 49 Ford with a column shift 3 speed. The body was absolutely cherry. My dad sold it for 50 bucks decades ago. 
Car IDI see a Henry J! (and a couple of '50/51 Fords, a Buick and a Pontiac)
The CarsGood job everyone. From left to right are: 1950 Ford, 1950 Buick Roadmaster, 1951 Ford, Kaiser-Frazer "Henry J" (1951 model, most of which had no trunk lids), 1955 or 1956 Pontiac wagon (which both used the same rear fenders as the 1955 Chevrolet wagon, with different taillights).
The carsI'm pretty sure that the first Ford is a '49.  We had one when I was a kid, and the trunk lock mechanism piece above the license plate was straight and did not turn down at each end like the one in the picture. The '50 Fords had the "turned down" piece.
The carsEditing my own reply.  I meant to say the first Ford is a 1950 model since it has the turned-down trunk lock piece above the license plate.
[You are correct. Thanks for the info. Now, who can tell if the station wagon is a 1955 or 56 Pontiac? The red-and-white color scheme is shown in the 1956 sales brochure. - Dave]

Car conditionLook how quickly these autos lost their finish, all except the Pontiac wagon look much too rough for their six or seven years of use. 
Pontiac WagonI vote for the Pontiac being a '55.  I've got a print of my twin brother and I up on top of the family's '55 Pontiac wagon washing it (we were 8 years old, and not heavy enough to dent '50's sheet metal). What I can see of the back end in the photo, the taillights, rear trunk hinges, and bumper look identical.  The photo though is mostly a side view so not all details are available. Our car had a two tone dark green, light green paint job.
Andrew Russell
San Diego  
'51 Henry JThe Henry J is a '51. In 1952 the taillights went on to the fins.
[The other way you can tell it's a '51 is that there's no trunk lid. - Dave]
re 1955Here is a  web adress,http://www.cars-on-line.com/stationwagon.html. You will see A 1955 pontiac chieftain wagon for sale. They have A pic of the rear and it looks the same as this one.
[The 1956 wagon would look the same in back. - Dave]
1955 GMThe  Pontiac is a 1955, GM used the same basic design on  Pontiacs and Chevys.
[Or it could be a '56. - Dave]
Re: 1955 GMIt could also be a 1956 Pontiac. The wagon rear ends were the same for 1955 and 1956.
Peru, IndianaBirthplace of one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived: Cole Porter!
Henry JSears Roebuck also sold the Henry J and called it the  Allstate. The retail price was $999.
Kaiser-Frazer was an attempt at creating  another brand in the automobile business after WWII, when cars were scarce. The biggest dealer was in California, a franchise owned by the promoter Earl "Madman" Muntz. His radio jingle was "The Kaiser-Frazer, yours at once, today at Madman Muntz."
After Kaiser-Frazer sank, Muntz just reached up on his shelf for his next idea. It was a low-price line of TVs, under $100, hawked on radio stations across the country. You called and got a visit from a salesman who carried the step-up model into your house and began his sales pitch. At his peak Muntz may have been the largest seller of TVs in the country.
PontiacThe Pontiac is a 1955. The 1956s had the name in script rather than in block letters. We had a 1956 sedan.  My great-aunt had a Henry J just like this one, except that it was an ugly dark brown.
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Kodachromes 1, Travel & Vacation)

Cardiff-by-the-Sea: 1960
... Bel Air is what I would guess. Chevy Coupe The car is a classic 1957 Chevrolet two-door hardtop. Yellow and white. It has a V8 ... power steering. Vertical bumper guards Were they a dealer accessory or factory option? Nice Chevy. V-8 even. You reckon ol' ... 
 
Posted by Tony W. - 09/17/2011 - 8:23pm -

The man who looks like he's ready to hunt a giant shark is Bob Beach. Behind him is Bob's son, Rob, and next to Rob is his grandma. Taken on Crest Drive in Cardiff, California, June 1960. 35mm Kodachrome slide. View full size
Unmistakable Fin1957 Chevy Bel Air is what I would guess. 
Chevy CoupeThe car is a classic 1957 Chevrolet two-door hardtop. Yellow and white. It has a V8 engine, denoted by the chrome V on the trunk lid. Wish it were mine.
Tri-FiveCertainly a '57 Chevy, but since we can't see the side trim "wedge" it could also be a 210. But Bob Beach does look like a man who would be driving the top of the line Bel Air, don't you think?
Gimmmeee!Want. The. Chevy.
Learning to DriveI learned to drive in a '57 Chev 2 door Bel Air in 1960. It was missing the big "V" because it was a "Six Banger" with PowerGlide. It was my father's first automatic transmission car, it only had two gears, low and high and no power steering.
Vertical bumper guardsWere they a dealer accessory or factory option?
Nice Chevy. V-8 even.You reckon ol' Bob liked get it sideways every now and again?
Shark-Hunter Bob's flip-flopsThen called "thongs," they've come a long way from the flimsy, inexpensive rubber ones of 1960. Now we have a lot more options in style, quality, composition and variety. We used to get ones like those pictured for about $.39/pair at Thrifty Drug Store or Woolworth's here in San Diego, all cheaply produced in Japan.
'57 ChevyLovely car, we had a Bel Air 4 door hardtop, Corvette power pack and that awful PowerGlide two-speed tranny. A great car for a high school kid; made a wonderful noise when a small hole "appeared" in the mufflers. Who knew that the '55 to '57 designs become such icons of Chevy history. If I remember correctly, the bumpers were set up to take those guards so the dealer could add them.
Whoa!My wife used to live on Crest back in the early 80s!  Does anyone know at which address this was taken?  
I'd love to do a comparison shot.  I go to Encinitas all the time.
Re: Whoa!I'd rather not give the address as the Beaches still live there. I will say that there is now a large porch/patio where the grass is, a sizable garage where the car is, and a big tree between the two (it may very well be the tree in the photo but I don't know for sure).
also WhoaI used to ride my bike there in the 60's and 70's; lots of great folks along there. Anybody remember any Gardners along that road?
(ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Tonypix)

Hot Wheels: 1942
... After the halt of automobile production and "freeze" of car sales, these 1942 Buicks were among the last new models the public could ... the war. May 1942. "Grand Island, Nebraska. Auto dealer's window." Better buy Buick! Medium format acetate negative by John ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/27/2022 - 3:28pm -

        After the halt of automobile production and "freeze" of car sales, these 1942 Buicks were among the last new models the public could buy until the end of the war.
May 1942. "Grand Island, Nebraska. Auto dealer's window." Better buy Buick! Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
No room at the "N" Should've paid for larger lettering.
[Or slightly smaller! - Dave]
Brubaker Buick102 East 2nd Street is now an empty lot, but I was able to locate this memory.
If you qualifyThe Office of Production Management issued an order on Jan. 14, 1942, to "stockpile" all cars shipped after Jan. 15. Cars shipped to dealers could not be sold until specific permission to sell was granted when deemed "in the public interest" but such permission probably wasn't granted earlier than January 1943. Dealers were also required to make the tires and tubes from such vehicles available to any "appropriate agency" at any time so requested. 
All manufacturers ended their production of automobiles on February 22, 1942. The January 1942 production quota had been a little over 100,000 automobiles and light trucks. The units manufactured at the beginning of February would bring up the total number of vehicles in a newly established car stockpile to 520,000. These would be available during the duration of the war for rationed sales by auto dealers to purchasers deemed “essential drivers.” 
The government’s Office of Price Administration also imposed rationing of gasoline and tires and set a national speed limit of 35 mph.
During the early part of February 1942 all car owners were required to record the serial numbers of the tires on their cars and report them to the proper authorities. They also had to certify that they had only five tires and tubes for each vehicle they owned. 
Still available?It took me 80 years, but I finally qualify.
Not Froze?And not Freezed either. And no snow in May.
"Frozen" was not even a Disney dream at the time, correct as the grammar might have been.
Hot cars indeed!
That car?Could it be a Buick Super? The front end looks identical to some images I found online for that year/make/model.
Assault on freedom?I am bemused by Geezer's report that in 1942 the U.S. government required everyone with a car to submit the serial numbers on their tires. Gives some perspective on the current "freedom"-defending North Americans attacking protective mask mandates.
Doleful BuickSad-eyed appearance brings to mind a forlorn and lonely pet shop animal.
Purchasing a Buick Straight Eight with city MPG in the 12-14 range and strict gasoline rationing in effect, wouldn't have appealed to the average buyer.
SharksThat Buick behind the glass - collective image of the sales force behind?
BTW, I love 40's car design.
(The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Small Towns, WW2)
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