Essex was Hudson's cheaper line. As sales declined during the Depression, the Essex was called Essex-Terraplane. Terraplane is a play on "terra" (the earth) and plane, as in aero-plane! :P
The Essex is often cited by historians as the "first affordable closed car"--1924 I believe. In 1919 or so, 90%+ of all cars were open; by 1930, it was about the other way 'round. So the humble Essex is a significant automobile in history....but not a 1933 model so much.
That was the 1922 Essex IIRC, and yes, probably the most boring car of historical significance. My grandparents had an Essex around 1930 - it was pretty much all right angles, kind of funny looking for that.
Can't imagine running around the NE in open cars in winter but people did it all the time. Of course, in the countryside they just put their cars away and got out the horses.
Or even had special clothing for motoring. About 20 years ago when my parents were actively dealing in antiques, they had a scarf from around 1910 that was made for driving - still in box. I think it brought around $100 then.
In open cars, you often needed a "duster", a hat, gloves, goggles and a lap robe. The combination of dust, oil from the engine, and horse manure was pretty challenging for early motorists.
Closed cars were mostly custom-built and quite expensive until...well..cars like the '22 Essex. You could buy a Ford Model T "Doctor's Coupe" but it was pretty primitive.
good catch! The 50s Olympia had more of a gap mouth grill insert and the very early ones had I think different hub caps, so I'm guessing about 1948-49 here. The '47 was produced in such low numbers I don't think anyone ever noticed!
The chromey style might have came around in 1949, but no earlier - it was prewar style before then. The car remained in production with a basic prewar shape until 1953 or so, when the Germans experienced their first jump towards modern cars.
And about the "Spotters Guide" book for old European cars - no such book that I know of. Most cars did not undergo yearly changes unlike American cars, such a book might not have enough demand. There is this website which is not at all inclusive and is kind of odd, but it spans many years in the pull down menu.
Most German cars aren't hard, everything is prewar until the early 50s with slightly updated details added around 1950. British cars are even better with some prewar style living until about 1960.
I've got an excellent British car encyclopedia, and a bunch of those little charming Sports Cars books they used to publish in the UK, with color plates. Not a lot of info but sturdy hardback books with plenty of obscure makes in there, including rare race cars.
I need help identifying this auto. The photo is my dad probably in 1942 - 1947 in his Sunday-church best living where he grew up in South Carolina? My brother thinks it was a Ford. I searched many sites, and the only auto that I found that had this distinctive grill: wide at the top and just a bit of sheet metal above was simply labeled: "Ford Saloon 1939." The year makes sense in terms of the year, but when I researched further, I found that the '39 Saloon was a Ford UK automobile, and my dad lived in South Carolina.???? Thanks if anyone can help.
I need help identifying this auto. The photo is my dad probably in 1942 - 1947 in his Sunday-church best living where he grew up in South Carolina? My brother thinks it was a Ford. I searched many sites, and the only auto that I found that had this distinctive grill: wide at the top and just a bit of sheet metal above was simply labeled: "Ford Saloon 1939." The year makes sense in terms of the year, but when I researched further, I found that the '39 Saloon was a Ford UK automobile, and my dad lived in South Carolina.???? Thanks if anyone can help.
looks like the license plate is labeled 1937 also. Some States in earlier days, changed plates every year rather than the current base year and add yearly stickers practice..
here's a link.. edit: for some reason link doesn't pick up..copy link including .jpg and paste in menu bar..should work then..
I need help in identifying a car in a photo. It is a 1947-1952 wagon. The hood ornament is an eagle, or it appears, there are two circular headlights, a single, not segmented, windshield. I have a good photo, but can't figure out how to post it. If you are good with this era of cars, send me an email and I will send pic that way. I think it is a 1950 Pontiac, but not sure.
You can google just about any car and click on 'images' to see if your guess is right. For example, here's a photo of a 1950 Pontiac wagon, is this it?
I know I shouldn't be looking at the automobile. And I know you can't see much of it. But any guesses as to what this car might be?
It "feels" mid-60s GM A-body to me, but then I can't seem to fully match its visible characteristics to such cars via a Google image search. The vent window seems slightly too swept-back, the door panel doesn't seem to match anything I've seen factory (is it custom?), the mirror is missing (but is a flat, chrome disc on the driver's side), the rims look like aftermarket products, and part of the front quarter badge appears to be missing.
Ah, you have better eyes than I do at this age. I was thinking that was a busted-up emblem, but you're probably right. THANKS!
I found a lot of pictures of Impala SS models from the era and they have a script-style "SuperSport" in that location. But the plainer-Jane Impala (which the amateur model here certainly isn't) had block lettering "IMPALA" and the emblem with the African antelope just behind the fenderwell.
So it's probably a GM "B" and not an "A." The only A-body in the photo is the young lady.
I'm gonna guess 1932 Ford Model A. I googled some pics, and the Chevy had landau bars, just like the Pontiac. The Plymouth didn't have landau bars, but the back window had a bit more forward rake to it. The Model A rear window was totally upright, though.
I am pretty sure it is a Model A. They are pretty small in 2-door form, looks just like that car. I don't know how to distinguish the year of an open car from that angle, but it is 1928-31.
I have some old photos of my parents and they have this car which I am not familiar with, these were taken in Hong Kong in c1952. It could be a Hillman cos after this car they definitely bought a Hillman. To view the pictures go to this Skydrive site:
Without doing any research, it looks like a 'late '40s Holden to me. That would be an Australian General Motors car, but it's just a spontaneous guess.
Comments
Essex was Hudson's cheaper line. As sales declined during the Depression, the Essex was called Essex-Terraplane. Terraplane is a play on "terra" (the earth) and plane, as in aero-plane! :P
The Essex is often cited by historians as the "first affordable closed car"--1924 I believe. In 1919 or so, 90%+ of all cars were open; by 1930, it was about the other way 'round. So the humble Essex is a significant automobile in history....but not a 1933 model so much.
You, too, could have one of your very own!
Closed cars were mostly custom-built and quite expensive until...well..cars like the '22 Essex. You could buy a Ford Model T "Doctor's Coupe" but it was pretty primitive.
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a little more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Olympia
Mike
And about the "Spotters Guide" book for old European cars - no such book that I know of. Most cars did not undergo yearly changes unlike American cars, such a book might not have enough demand. There is this website which is not at all inclusive and is kind of odd, but it spans many years in the pull down menu.
I need to study up on early Opels more. I don't think I yet have all the grill changes straight in my mind.
Here's a very good site for cars and trucks, focus is on prewar material
Most German cars aren't hard, everything is prewar until the early 50s with slightly updated details added around 1950. British cars are even better with some prewar style living until about 1960.
Do you know this site?
http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/
Funny I sometimes have a hard time with people faces, but car faces are usually easy for me
here's a link.. edit: for some reason link doesn't pick up..copy link including .jpg and paste in menu bar..should work then..
http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_SC_GI3_1930's.jpg
so if true, that pic was taken in 1937..
Mike W
(no picture in your post--let me know if you need help posting a photo!)
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Did it look anything like this>
52 Packard wagon
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
It "feels" mid-60s GM A-body to me, but then I can't seem to fully match its visible characteristics to such cars via a Google image search. The vent window seems slightly too swept-back, the door panel doesn't seem to match anything I've seen factory (is it custom?), the mirror is missing (but is a flat, chrome disc on the driver's side), the rims look like aftermarket products, and part of the front quarter badge appears to be missing.
Thanks in advance for any help or guesses.
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I found a lot of pictures of Impala SS models from the era and they have a script-style "SuperSport" in that location. But the plainer-Jane Impala (which the amateur model here certainly isn't) had block lettering "IMPALA" and the emblem with the African antelope just behind the fenderwell.
So it's probably a GM "B" and not an "A." The only A-body in the photo is the young lady.
http://alturl.com/a4ugp
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Why do people always stand in the EXACT place I need to look at to identify a car? :P
Your uncle is probably right, popular-price roadsters and coupes back then weren't all that large.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
http://sdrv.ms/QpxfaP
Thanks in advance.