What car was that?

we used to stand on a street corner to identify cars in the 60`s. if a real hot rod went by we were estatic with some kind of adreniline rush. i can remember me and a buddy snuck into a dealership when they had the cars covered and lifted the cover of a 59 cadillac. at 12 years old we had bragging rights for being the first in town to see the new car. we told everybody at school how ugly it was with those fins.
 
Yep. I remember when these first hit the dealers. Sold like hot cakes.

StumpBill.jpg
 
I grew up in southeastern Michigan in the 50s, on one of the main roads the leads into the city on Pontiac. Like many others here, we'd watch and count the many types of cars & trucks as they passed. My sis and older brother & I got pretty good at make, model and year.

In '56 we moved on a dirt road 3 miles from the Milford GM Proving Grounds it was the main route from the highway. The GM engineers often drove new models home, often with grilles & other areas covered. It was great to sit by the road and guess what they were. In spring & early summer they'd drive next year's models to/from work and we'd get 'sneak peeks' at the new cars.

The road was paved in summer of '59, we all felt because GM used it so much.

But we were always a Ford family. Dad would often go for rides to different Ford dealerships in the area to look at the cars & trucks. Mom had a '49 tudor sedan, Dad a '53 F100 panel, then he bought a new '57 F100 and Mom got a new '60 Galaxy.

Ahhhhh, the good ol' days when we could actually tell 'em all apart!
 
I played the same game. Thought I knew them all. I still remember walking home from school in late 1956 and seeing that a neighbor bought a new 57 Ford 2 dr hardtop. I thought it was the most beautiful car I ever saw. Loved the front tilt hood. Bob
 
51 Merc,
I like the retro look of the PT Cruiser. To me there is only one vehicle that has kept its identity from the old days and still I can’t tell the year. The Jeep, and it has a large following today especially among the younger folks.

On the other hand your Mercury is ageless and still has appeal to the young and old alike. Most youngsters today can't remember James Dean, but they like this car.

Shadetree
 
My brother has a '39 Plymouth slantback and a PT Cruiser. He says the PT is retro of his '39 Plymouth.
 
We used to keep our backs turned toward the oncoming car and listen to it and then turn around to look to see who guessed correctly.Could almost always guess the make and sometimes even the year. Not really a tough thing to do in the 1940's and 50's!!
 
When I was working as a body shop owner I would walk around the car on the pretext of finding additional damage, but really looking for a name plate to identify the car that I was writing a damage report on. If the customer thought that I didn't know what kind of car they were driving, they wouldn't have confidence to leave it for repair. The rice burners all looked alike to me.
 
We have (3) PT Cruisers to go with our 37 Tudor Slantback and 38 Coupe.

IMHO - The PT Cruiser is styled after the lines of the 37 Tudor slantback, even the hood has a prop rod in the same place, and like the 37, don't try to close the hood with the prop in place, or you will kink the hood like most 37's were...
 
Bill in Al said:
We used to keep our backs turned toward the oncoming car and listen to it and then turn around to look to see who guessed correctly.Could almost always guess the make and sometimes even the year. Not really a tough thing to do in the 1940's and 50's!!
Click to expand...
ya, nowadays. its, Q:"Whats that silent thing coming?" A: Every new car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top