Late Kaisers had unusual windsheils with their double arches. The sunshade hides those, her's what they looked like>>>
Perhaps the popularity of the sun visor options in the 50s was due to the bigger single pane front glass. People weren't used to it. Windshield's got even bigger in the late 50s but visors declined in popularity. I'd guess at the height of the take rate ('53-'55) 12-15% of new cars/trucks had 'em.
I remember in my youth a lot of cars had the sunshades AND had a prism device mounted on the dash to let them see traffic lights when waiting because the sunshade blocked their view of traffic lights with the loss of that vertical field of vision.
Then later came the dark green tint at the top of the windshields which seemed to obviate the need for sunshades made of metal on the outside.
This isn't quite the same as the ones that were sitting on the dash. I still love seeing one of the originals in a car at a show.
I think eventually single piece windshields must have been a big deal to the average person. My mom is an older run boomer, and when I see an old car or street scene on TV from the year she was born, I point out the fact. She'll react with horror "look at that divided windshield, it looks so old". Where in the late 30s, split windshields popped up on the latest designs, maybe because of glass tech vs curves.
1962 Pontiac. Those wheel covers point to its being a Grand Prix.
Those are the optional eight lug alloy wheels that could be had on any full size Poncho and most GPs did not have them. This first year GP has the distinctive grille surround and the silver flash on the left grille and flanks that sez "Grand Prix". At The Old Motor they say the color is exclusive to Grand Prixs.
The Fairlane 500 is likely powered by the "High Performance" K-Code ((271hp) version of the 289 V8 first seen in Cobras and later in performance optioned '65-6 Mustangs.
1962 Pontiac. Those wheel covers point to its being a Grand Prix.
The Fairlane 500 is likely powered by the "High Performance" K-Code ((271hp) version of the 289 V8 first seen in Cobras and later in performance optioned '65-6 Mustangs.
And the third car in the picture? I'd say a 53 Chevy but the proportions aren't quite right.
That could be my late father-in-law who was posted to France w. the Army Engineers in the late 50s. He shipped over their '56 or '57 Olds with those colors. He found he was better off parking it except for family trips due to pricey gas and narrow roads and streets. He picked up a used Fiat Millicento for local driving and took both cars back to the states in '61 or '62.
I've been trying to match those coats of arms and statue with a German town without success thus far. On my Army post in Germany in '67-'68, there were only two American cars, a '68 Pontiac Tempest, which my First Sergeant purchased through the PX (!) and a '57 Chevy.
For some reason my eyes are drawn to that clapped out old VW 'vert in the foreground. Talk about a survivor. Can anyone identify the gray estate(?) seen on the left behind the Rekord?
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
The estate parked, facing left? Or the one between two Beetles, on the street? I think the parked one facing left it might be a Lloyd, with another Lloyd beside it to its left.
For some reason my eyes are drawn to that clapped out old VW 'vert in the foreground. Talk about a survivor. Can anyone identify the gray estate(?) seen on the left behind the Rekord?
I love that. Wanted one bad in 1984 when I got out of school, but first job pay didn’t support it. 2x the price of the colt I ended up with. A guy I worked with had a black one. I loved riding it it.
I don't know the year of this one but it reminds me of one of my most loved cars, my 1980 non turbo diesel rabbit. On every trip from New London, Ct. to Washington D.C. it used no more than 6.8 gallons of fuel. Final mileage - 289,000.
Early 1960s, somewhere in the USA. The supposedly unsuccessful 1960 Ford makes another appearance in this pic, as it it seems to uncannily do in every pic I've found from this era. Guess it wasn't so unsuccessful.
I don't know the year of this one but it reminds me of one of my most loved cars, my 1980 non turbo diesel rabbit. On every trip from New London, Ct. to Washington D.C. it used no more than 6.8 gallons of fuel. Final mileage - 289,000.
It's a 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI, from the first year VW sold these in the USA (Golf GTI in non-US mkts.) I had a red one with stripey red seats instead of the plaid so associated w the GTI. Those little wheels were 14 inchers and seemed quite huge for this class of car.
The GTI was made for the cut and thrust of urban driving with it's good brakes and ability to zip into traffic holes. It was less suited for highway travel, as the final drive ratio dictated 3800 RPM in High (5th) @ 70mph--pretty buzzy. The interior was cheap looking outside of the wonderful Recaro cloth seats but it was my last car to have full instrumentation including water temp, oil pressure and voltage. It was also my last car with manual steering and my first with air con.
Entering, a 1957 Dodge. I wish we could see the front end to see if it was a '57.5 having the 6 verticals on the bumper. A Newberry store! When I was a kid I thought they had the best toy department.
Early 1960s, somewhere in the USA. The supposedly unsuccessful 1960 Ford makes another appearance in this pic, as it it seems to uncannily do in every pic I've found from this era. Guess it wasn't so unsuccessful.
The Porsche 356B exiting is a clue that this is likely somewhere in CA, except where are the VWs? The other import that's visible is a white Renault Dauphine next to your beloved '60 Ford on the right. Peeking out from behind the bench on left is a white/blue '61 Chevy Impala 4dr h/t, the newest car I can spot.
Next to the 'Pala is a two tone Pontiac, a '53 0r '54 I guess which might make it the oldest car visible. Just past the Porsche I see a white '60-'61 Valiant/Dart wagon.
I think 1960 was a recession year, so sales were lower than surrounding years, but maybe more importantly, survival rates have to be very low. These cars weren't exactly rust-repellant, and they were also heavy - making them destined for the scrapyard once they wore out and fell out of fashion (which happened faster then).
To the left of that 60 Starliner, I think I see a 60 Chevy, and I can't tell what is to the left of that, somewhat boxy and not huge, perhaps foreign. Also directly above the 61 Impala and what looks like a 62 Comet in motion behind it, I see a Lark.
The estate parked, facing left? Or the one between two Beetles, on the street? I think the parked one facing left it might be a Lloyd, with another Lloyd beside it to its left.
For some reason my eyes are drawn to that clapped out old VW 'vert in the foreground. Talk about a survivor. Can anyone identify the gray estate(?) seen on the left behind the Rekord?
Thanks, Fin. I was curious about the one facing left with someone seemingly standing and looking at it but is probably just passing by.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
You're a little off, it's a second gen. Fiat 124 Coupe which debuted in 1971 (IIRC), that one's from MY 1972 and wears the optional Cromodora alloy wheels. The body has been repainted in a non-factory color and I suspect the wheels were originally siver-grey.
Earlier (1966-70) 124 coupes had only two headlights>
The 124 Coupes suffered the fate of nearly every Euro car that comes with two doors in that it was far less popular than its ragtop sibling. A trend that continues to this day in the US. I've noticed that BMW cabriolets outsell their steel top siblings by tw or three to one.
Comments
Perhaps the popularity of the sun visor options in the 50s was due to the bigger single pane front glass. People weren't used to it. Windshield's got even bigger in the late 50s but visors declined in popularity. I'd guess at the height of the take rate ('53-'55) 12-15% of new cars/trucks had 'em.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Then later came the dark green tint at the top of the windshields which seemed to obviate the need for sunshades made of metal on the outside.
This isn't quite the same as the ones that were sitting on the dash. I still love seeing one of the originals in a car at a show.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
https://www.mooneyesusa.com/product-p/aa5169.htm
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The Fairlane 500 is likely powered by the "High Performance" K-Code ((271hp) version of the 289 V8 first seen in Cobras and later in performance optioned '65-6 Mustangs.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Staying close to that era, here's a pic from Germany around 1960 or so. Interesting mix of stuff here.
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2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
On my Army post in Germany in '67-'68, there were only two American cars, a '68 Pontiac Tempest, which my First Sergeant purchased through the PX (!) and a '57 Chevy.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
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])
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Oh it’s a GTI. 83 or 84
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2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
plaid so associated w the GTI. Those little wheels were 14 inchers and seemed quite huge for this class of car.
The GTI was made for the cut and thrust of urban driving with it's good brakes and ability to zip into traffic holes. It was less suited for highway travel, as the final drive ratio dictated 3800 RPM in High (5th) @ 70mph--pretty buzzy. The interior was cheap looking outside of the wonderful Recaro cloth seats but it was my last car to have full instrumentation including water temp, oil pressure and voltage. It was also my last car with manual steering and my first with air con.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
A Newberry store! When I was a kid I thought they had the best toy department.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
To the left of that 60 Starliner, I think I see a 60 Chevy, and I can't tell what is to the left of that, somewhat boxy and not huge, perhaps foreign. Also directly above the 61 Impala and what looks like a 62 Comet in motion behind it, I see a Lark.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Earlier (1966-70) 124 coupes had only two headlights>
The 124 Coupes suffered the fate of nearly every Euro car that comes with two doors in that it was far less popular than its ragtop sibling. A trend that continues to this day in the US. I've noticed
that BMW cabriolets outsell their steel top siblings by tw or three to one.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Surprised that it is on a Custom Coupe bodystyle and not the Sport Coupe, but GM was weird back then.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6