Carspotting

14 comments on Carspotting
2 minutes

I love old cars, and whenever I see one still on the road I try to take a photograph. These are the old cars I spotted in the wild this year.

I met a friend for breakfast in the spring and this 1964 or 1965 Plymouth Barracuda was in the parking lot.

Ooh, Barracuda

I was looking for things to photograph with my Kodak Signet 40 when I came upon this 1970s-80s AMC Jeep CJ-5.

Seven Slots

My sons and I stopped for ice cream in Logansport when we spied this 1964 Chevy Impala. The owner didn’t seem to like me hanging around his car, so this was the only photo I got.

Ridin' in my six-four

This 1973 Plymouth Satellite Custom, a real survivor, sat behind the Palace Theater in Crossville, Tennessee.

1973 Plymouth Satellite Custom

Someone who works in my office park drives this 1971 Delta 88 Royale during the sunny months.

1971 Delta 88 Royale

Dig its massive tail light.

1971 Delta 88 Royale

I had my Agfa Optima in hand when I came upon this 1970s VW Beetle, so I shot it.

Beetle bug (crop)

I rented a minivan for a family trip this summer. Hertz is inside a former Dodge dealer’s, where this 1957 Dodge Custom Royal is still parked.

Dodge

My brother works with a fellow whose family built Avantis in South Bend after Studebaker folded. The guy drives this one, and parks it inside the building.

Avanti

I stop for coffee at my neighborhood Dunkin’ Donuts about once a week. The guy who works the drive through drives this 1975 or 1976 Chevrolet Impala to work every day.

Impala

Finally, this 1941 Buick was sitting in the Costco parking lot. It was the last place I expected to find a car like this!

Buick Eight

Sometimes an old car isn’t beautiful to behold, such as when it’s rotting in your next-door neighbor’s driveway. Check this one out.


Comments

14 responses to “Carspotting”

  1. ryoko861 Avatar

    I really should carry my camera around more often. I was at an indoor mall a couple weeks ago and came upon 2, yes TWO, Ferraris parked next to eachother. One was mid 80’s, the other newer. But where was the camera? And my phone doesn’t have a data cord (so stupid,a camera on the phone but can’t transfer pics-good going LG!). I always feel those are missed photo opportunities!

    Love that station wagon! Now THAT’S when a station wagon was THEE SUV of the times!

    1. Jim Avatar

      I photographed the both Impalas, the Oldsmobile, and the Avanti with my cell phone camera. I e-mail the photos from there directly to my Flickr account. It’s pretty cool!

      I remember as a kid that a friend’s mom had a big Plymouth Satellite wagon like that one, except it had the fake woodgrain on the sides. A bunch of us kids were in a day camp for a couple weeks one summer and all of us rode back and forth in the Satellite. We all just sat loose in the way back.

  2. Scott Palmer Avatar

    Awesome pix! I especially liked the Avanti and the Buick, though they’re quite different.

    Did you ever visit the old Stutz building downtown? They have one or two of the old Stutz cars on display.

    Thanks for the great trip down memory lane in some cool cars.

    1. Jim Avatar

      I’ve never visited the Stutz building. It’s on my list.

  3. Mike Avatar

    I’m seldom able to walk by an old car without snapping a picture. They generally have to be pre-1960 to be of interest to me; I often don’t recognize the models after that.

    1. Jim Avatar

      Heh, I’m the same, except it’s pre-1980.

  4. Lone Primate Avatar
    Lone Primate

    I play this game with personalize plates. I’ve gotten some doozies. I think the best one I’ve seen and photographed so far was ISEDDPPL. :)

    1. Jim Avatar

      My ex, whose lead foot is legendary, always wanted her personalized plate to read “FLYNBYU.”

  5. vanilla Avatar

    I really enjoyed this auto show! Thanks for putting it on.

    1. Jim Avatar

      My pleasure!

  6. zorgor Avatar

    I’m not as into car spotting as you, but I’ve always liked seeing a well kept antique car. Thanks for sharing!

    Naming that Plymouth station wagon “Satellite”… really seems like putting lipstick on a pig to me… Even if it was cherry I’d have to ask “really?” Forget space-worthy, it seems more ground-bound than most cars… It definitely does look like a survivor though.

    1. Jim Avatar

      I always thought Satellite was a dumb name for a car.

  7. lovelyshadesofnostalgia Avatar

    Those are some great cars. I love that 1941 Buick, such a beauty!

    1. Jim Avatar

      She is, isn’t she? So dignified.

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