The day after my birthday last month Margaret and I learned of a car show at the local American Legion. We popped over. I brought two cameras, my Nikon Df with the 28-200mm f/3.5-54.6 AF-G Nikkor attached, and a film camera, images from which I’ll share in an upcoming post.
The show was a real grab bag of cars and trucks, mostly from owners who live in this county. The most unusual of the cars was this 1927 Buick.
A car this old in this condition had to have been restored at some point. But the restoration is showing its age, with large cracks in the paint. No matter; it was great to see this old girl. As a rumble-seat car, two steps eased ingress for passengers.
Did you know that 1975 was the first year for the Ford F150? It was a heavier-duty version of the then-standard Ford F100 half-ton truck. Shortly the F150 supplanted the F100.
Here’s a 1982 Camaro Z-28 that looks like a survivor.
The majority of the cars were modified. This 1939 Ford has a much later engine in it.
I always thought the Plymouth Duster was good looking. This one is from 1971. That maroon isn’t a factory color, but it looks good on the car.
This 1957 Ford Thunderbird was restored to like-original condition.
Its supercharged Thunderbird engine was still in the bay.
It’s funny, at most large car shows Camaros are a dime a dozen and I don’t bother to photograph them. But at smaller shows like this one, you might find one or two, and I feel compelled to make their portraits.
If you go back through all of my old-car images, you’ll find that I’ve photographed this detail on a number of Camaros. It’s a reliably satisfying subject.
That is definitely not a factory color on that 1952 Ford F1.
This 1969 Pontiac Bonneville convertible was my favorite car at the show. It looks terrific in that dark green.
I remember when cars like this were everywhere on American roads. Seeing one today, I’m struck by how long it is.
Here’s a 1966 GMC truck.
The 1964 Chevy Impala was an incredibly common sight even in the early 1970s when I was a small boy. This was the standard American family car in its time.
Here’s another reliable subject. I’ve photographed this view of the ’64 Impala dozens of times, I’m sure.
Here’s a 1969 Dodge Super Bee. It’s based on the Coronet, a standard mid-sized Dodge, but packs a very powerful engine.
Bringing up the rear, here’s a 1967 GMC truck.
It felt good to make a car show this year. I try to go to at least one every year but I don’t always manage it.
Get more of my photography in your inbox or reader! Click here to subscribe.
