The 58 Ford had a lot of 58 Thunderbird Squarebird design touches, although that roof line had to wait for the 59 Galaxie. As a kid it seemed like everyone pretty much liked the 58 over the simpler styled 57, but then I seem to recall the 58 got a bad quality reputation for some reason. They both had the tin worm that persisted through the 1960 model. I think the 58 had a dip in sales (not positive though), but that was probably more attributable to the recession taking place that year.
The mystery van is so ubiquitous in our old photos I didn't even notice it at first - although of course it would be a rarity now other than perhaps as motor caravan (like a UK cottage version of a Motor Home).
We had thousands of them as panel vans because our then state owned Telephone Service (part of the General Post Office) used then as engineers vans for the whole of the 60's and onwards into the late 70's. (Obviously they used even more Morris Minor vans), but the van depicted is pretty much what we had as TV signal detector vans in the 60's as well (you need a licence from what was then the Post Office for a TV - and even a radio back in the 50's.) Still need a TV licence here now....
Doesn't look like anybody else picked up on the van though.
The mystery van is so ubiquitous in our old photos I didn't even notice it at first - although of course it would be a rarity now other than perhaps as motor caravan (like a UK cottage version of a Motor Home).
I guess they sold these in US or maybe just Canada - I can see it is LHD.They did sell them in quite a few places in Europe and I think places like the Danish Post office had fleets of them.
In those days it was allowed to talk about trade in Europe here - before the world went mad.
I'm reminded of the old Monty Python sketch mentioning the cat-detector van for unlicensed cats.
Clerk: You don't need a license for your cat.
Praline: I bleedin' well do and I've got one! Can't be caught out there!
Clerk: There is no such thing as a bloody Cat license.
Praline: Yes there is.
Clerk: No there isn't.
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: What's that then?
Clerk: This is a dog license with the word 'dog' crossed out and 'cat' written in in crayon.
Praline: Man didn't have the right form.
Clerk: What man?
Praline: The man from the cat detector van.
Clerk: The loony detector van, you mean.
Praline: Look, it's people like you what cause unrest.
Clerk: What cat detector van?
Praline: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge.
Clerk: Housinge?
Praline: It was spelt like that on the van. I'm very observant. I never seen so many bleedin' aerials. The man said their equipment could pinpoint a purr at four hundred yards, and Eric being such a happy cat was a piece of cake.
Generally speaking I'm not a big fan of the huge Yank tanks of the 1950s-70s. There are some exceptions, most are convertibles or wagons like this beauty>
Speaking of wagons, this shot from Innsbruck, Austria circa 1964 offers some interesting vintage Euro-car wagons to ID (I don't know what they actually are):
I can't place the gray kombi between the VW Bus and the Beetles but the one on the end of the row is a Citroen ID/DS Break. Tan unit behind it is likely an Opel (Rekord?).
The pillarless wagon is indeed a 1960 Chrysler but not a T&C. Seller says it's a New Yorker (could it be both?). The ask is $97K! I think it's cool but not that cool.
It's both from what I read. New Yorker is the group luxury name, and Town and Country is the station wagon sophisticated name. Beautiful car and styling. I have seen other large Chrysler Corp wagons, but never one of those at a car show in this area.
Speaking of wagons, this shot from Innsbruck, Austria circa 1964 offers some interesting vintage Euro-car wagons to ID (I don't know what they actually are):
Yup, that's the favorite ride of armed revolutionaries and terrorists, the Toyota Hi-Lux which is sold everywhere but here (too small?) a 2007 Toyota Hi-Lux 4x4
Rambler next to a Sunbeam. Probably an Alpine. and is that a TR3 next to it?
Pair of MB SLs (assume 190s) and a 58 Chebby
Yup, you're correct on the Rambler (mid-60s), the Sunbeam Alpine and it's next to a white TR-3A. The red Benzes are 190SLs. The Chevy in the back is a '58. There's a newer one on front which hasn't been IDed. Anyone?
The Rambler is a '64, and if you painted the roof the same color as the body it would be a dead ringer for the car I took my driving test in (and one of the ones I learned to drive on: the other was a '60 Falcon that taught me how to drive in the absence of any noticeable accelerative ability). The Rumblecar was a V-8, so it accelerated a lot better, and was great fun to drive.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Two autos have not yet been called so I'ma do that. The tan Chevy in front is a 1962 Impala coupe sporting GM's newly introduced faux convertible roof line. "4 speed" sign in window and engine badge hint at performance upgrades. It probably has a hot 327 motor but it could be a 409 (she's real fine )
Way in back is a black roadster w two fellas standing. i'm pretty sure that's another TR-3 or 3A
A 1965 Buick Wildcat convertible. It had the big-car chrome Buick wheels which are perfect on that car and I note it has cornering lights which I always liked (and which were useful things that need to return). The red and black upholstery is a 2-tone that wasn't available from the factory but seems to be in the correct pattern at least. These big C-bodies still used the opposing "clap hands" windshield wiper pattern which GM was moving away from by then. Note the W-profile front (and rear) end styling which was a Dave Holls design. The '65 Buick was a really nicely styled car inside and out.
A 1965 Buick Wildcat convertible. It had the big-car chrome Buick wheels which are perfect on that car and I note it has cornering lights which I always liked (and which were useful things that need to return). The red and black upholstery is a 2-tone that wasn't available from the factory but seems to be in the correct pattern at least. These big C-bodies still used the opposing "clap hands" windshield wiper pattern which GM was moving away from by then. Note the W-profile front (and rear) end styling which was a Dave Holls design. The '65 Buick was a really nicely styled car inside and out.
Yup, it's a '65 Buick Wildcat Custom/425 in black over red. The wheels are Magnum 500 stamped steel. Cleverly styled to resemble alloys, they were optional on a wide variety of cars.
They look like Magnum 500s but they aren't. Magnums have slightly arched spokes running from the center to the rim while the Buick road wheels have a noticeably concave spoke.
That's a '59 Pontiac, I think a Catalina. It nicely illustrates the floppy handling endemic to the tanks of that era. Were tires really that skinny? Wheels that small? (13")
Mystery car above is an unpublished pic of a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville convertible from MT's car of the year issue. Hot Rod network posted more vintage MT test car pics here.
The only standard tire size that I could find was listed: 8.50 - 14.
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
68 Firebird! Had a 67 convertible with the Sprint 6 and a 3 speed. What a blast to drive, that car handled tremendously well and was very quick for a six! Lots of fun in that one!
Red one is a Porsche 928. Looks to me like an earlier one, but I have no idea how to distinguish different years on those. Interesting that it is a slick top!
Comments
Doesn't look like anybody else picked up on the van though.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I have a photo of a British TV detector van used on the same vehicle but I'm on Safari so can't post it here.
In those days it was allowed to talk about trade in Europe here - before the world went mad.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Clerk: You don't need a license for your cat.
Praline: I bleedin' well do and I've got one! Can't be caught out there!
Clerk: There is no such thing as a bloody Cat license.
Praline: Yes there is.
Clerk: No there isn't.
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: Is!
Clerk: Isn't!
Praline: What's that then?
Clerk: This is a dog license with the word 'dog' crossed out and 'cat' written in in crayon.
Praline: Man didn't have the right form.
Clerk: What man?
Praline: The man from the cat detector van.
Clerk: The loony detector van, you mean.
Praline: Look, it's people like you what cause unrest.
Clerk: What cat detector van?
Praline: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge.
Clerk: Housinge?
Praline: It was spelt like that on the van. I'm very observant. I never seen so many bleedin' aerials. The man said their equipment could pinpoint a purr at four hundred yards, and Eric being such a happy cat was a piece of cake.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
station wagon sophisticated name. Beautiful car and styling. I have seen other large Chrysler Corp
wagons, but never one of those at a car show in this area.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
There's a Citroen ID/DS wagon ("break") parked at right.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Pair of MB SLs (assume 190s) and a 58 Chebby
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
coupe sporting GM's newly introduced faux convertible roof line. "4 speed" sign in window and engine badge hint at performance upgrades. It probably has a hot 327 motor but it could be a 409 (she's real fine
Way in back is a black roadster w two fellas standing. i'm pretty sure that's another TR-3 or 3A
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Tom McCahill of MT is probably behind the wheel.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
The only standard tire size that I could find was listed: 8.50 - 14.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
nice white 1st gen Miata in background.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The 928 was in production for a long time, 1977-95 with only minor changes.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Big differences btw the '57 and '58 including quad headlights on the latter. This is a '57.
Doh!
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,