After I shared my last post from a local Cars and Coffee gathering, our very own J.P. Cavanaugh pinged me on Facebook and said, “Another one is coming up, do you want to meet me there?” Well, hell yes! You see, JPC and I live on opposite sides of town from each other. He rolled up in his own cars-and-coffee classic, his first-gen Mazda Miata.
Naturally, I shot film on this outing. I’m shooting through the cameras in my too-large collection, selling off the ones I don’t think I’ll use anymore. It was this 1974 Canon TLb’s turn in that process. It was Canon’s entry-level SLR at the time, with a top shutter speed of just 1/500 sec. But except for the battery-powered onboard light meter it’s all mechanical and lovely to use. I loaded some Kodak Gold 200 – but then set the camera to meter at 100, because this film’s great secret is that its colors become jewel-like when you overexpose the film a little.
Right off we came upon this 1972 Lincoln Continental. Given JPC’s predilection toward, and history with, Lincolns of this era, we lingered for a good long while.
My goodness, but how luxury cars have changed since 1972. This car seems mighty primitive to a modern eye. I was amused to notice that the turn-signal stalk was the same one used in my first car, a 1975 Pinto. And when was the last time you saw a turn-signal stalk whose only job was to activate the turn signal? Even on the cheapest car today all stalks are cram packed with things to do, such as control the wipers and set the cruise control.
The Conti’s generous flank made a lovely mirror for its neighboring Mustang.
These events are full of resto-modded muscle cars. I generally look right past them but I do have a soft spot in my heart for the ’70 Chevelle. I just love the front-end treatment they got and will always think that the ’71 and ’72 front ends were a step backward.
Swoon. So lovely.
It was surprising to come upon this Super Bird – I’ve only ever seen them in museums and at big auctions.
The almost-turquoise blue suited this car.
I’m a big fan of the ’67 and ’68 Mustang – the changes Ford made to the original Mustang body just look so right to me. JPC mentioned how thick the Mustang seat backs are, and how common that was in period Fords. Shortly we came upon a ’67 Camaro that I forgot to photograph and noticed its markedly skinnier seat backs. Now I’ll never not notice that.
This is such a beautiful cockpit.
So is this, from a mid-50s Corvette. It manages to balance feeling raw and elemental with looking thoughtfully designed.
This event was held at a classic car dealer, and of course they invited us all inside to see their inventory. I’ll always stop to look at a step-down Hudson. I just love them.
The light was dim inside, making photography challenging given I was shooting at ISO 100. I shot wide open, at f/1.8, at shutter speeds so slow that I had to be very steady to avoid camera shake. When I managed that, I got great results.
But really, it’s less about the photography and more about the chance to build a friendship. Thanks for suggesting we make this trip, JPC!
When will you guys have a meet up in NYC?
Hmmm that Superbird looks unusual to me, in that the nose is usually an added on piece, that you can detect from a distinct division between the nose and the body. This one appears to have had it integrated somehow. I just saw a Daytona at Moparfest on the weekend, and it has the same ‘added-on’ appearance. I believe when the cars were made at the factory, they were sent out to have the nose and the wing added externally.
Thanks for sharing these, and for sharing your meeting with us.
I don’t want to seem stupid, but I thought film for any camera disappeared just as tubes for radio and tv have disappeared?
Of the cars pictured, I would want to own the green Camaro, no matter which engine was under the hood.
It’s coming back like vinyl (not roofs though).
I dug out my dad’s Olympus Trip and discovered lots of websites on film cameras, and people paying silly money on eBay for film that passed its sell by date in 1987, not because new film is unavailable, but for what you might call “patina”.
Here’s the quick and easy solution to not seeming stupid on any subject. It’s called “Google” Here’s the results from entering “35mm film”:
https://www.google.com/search?q=35mm+film&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1hdX994DdAhUkNX0KHfUgC-EQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=627
And here’s the result from “vacuum tubes”:
https://www.google.com/search?q=vacuum+tubes&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjI47aai4HdAhWjMX0KHUqGBGsQ_AUICigB&biw=1448&bih=918
As you can see, film and tubes are quite readily available.
It’s a remarkable device, this Google. 🙂
As always, beautiful pictures, Jim. I can’t decide if the Mustang steering wheel or the green Camaro is my favorite one of the bunch. Ah, just like deciding on which ice cream to get, I suppose I’ll just select both!
That looks like a beautiful silver BMW M3 (E30) next to JPC’s car in the background of one of the Superbird shots too.
Good eye! Odd that the most valuable car at the show was devoid of a photo or mention. Maybe it’ll get its own feature here soon enough.
That is probably my favorite E30 M3 color. With a salmon interior, mmmm.
I enjoyed the chance to look at some old cars with a knowledgeable CC friend. It was a great way to spend a morning. I will confess that it was a sweltering hot day and the inside portion of the show was a welcome relief. I will also confess that the top went up and the a/c came on in the Miata during the trip home.
One side effect of your shooting film is that you don’t have 650 shots of these cars. That Hudson (a 54 Hornet sedan) was part of a row of beautiful early 1950s dowdiness that also included a 53 Kaiser and a 54 DeSoto. The person who bought that 1960 Bonneville convertible would surely have been laughing at the owners of these three ancient, pudgy sedans.
The other side effect of your shooting film is that it clearly adds age and weight to any human caught in your lens. 🙂
That’s a common issue with film these days, along with inexplicably removing/whitening hair and adding bifocals. I can’t believe the film companies haven’t issued a recall by now.
One aspect of film I don’t miss is having to take along so many rolls of spare film on any prolonged outing. I bought a spare SD card for my camera six years ago when we caught the Indian Pacific across the Nullarbor to Perth. I took hundreds of photos, but still haven’t needed to use the spare card – old habits die hard, I guess.
Ah the Indian Pacific. Used to pass my front door virtually.
The Nullarbor seems to be part of used car jargon in WA. I lost count of the number of people who used the phrases “You could cross the Nullarbor in this” or “I mean I wouldn’t take it across the Nullarbor but it’s a good runabout”.
I used to be confused by people describing a Commodore or Camry as a “runabout”. In the UK that would mean a Fiat Panda or something. It was the Nullarbor comments that clued me in.
They meant these old bombs were fine for Perth metro use but not for Crocodile Dundee/London-Sydney Marathon type “breakdown and die of dehydration” malarkey.
Nice shots, still love that Camaro one.
And a 1960 Pontiac! One of my favourites!
If I lived across town I would get together with you guys more. 🙂
The 60 Bonneville was gorgeous indeed. I was kind of amazed by the wide variety of what was on display, both inside and out.
Looks like you had a great time!
I had a 1992 red Miata.
It was a fun car to wear.
That ’72 Continental does indeed have a multi-function turn signal stalk, just like those newfangled cars!
In addition to its advanced ability to signal left AND right turns, pushing it forward releases the tilt steering wheel. (Each one I’ve used on a FoMoCo product felt like it would snap in two when doing so, but they never did.)
Thanks for these great shots. Always love your film shooting. It’s a refreshing change from the usual, and reminds me how different the look is.
Some fine subjects there too.
Why thank you. 🙂
The Miata looks great! 🙂
The part we could see anyway…:-)
I am helping a young friend with a history of amblyopia practice to pass the agility section of her driving test and your picture of JP reminds me that, once again, “The answer is always Miata.” Such sight lines!
The difference between film and digital pics is very similar to music on vinyl played through a vacuum tube amp with a diamond stylus as opposed to music on CD’s played on a Walkman. Great shots, keep the film coming!
I would be very surprised if that was an original Superbird, just because of how super rare those are. A quick Google search shows that one can buy a “Superbird conversion kit” to turn a Plymouth Roadrunner into a Superbird clone. I’m guessing that’s what we see here.
+1 I doubt anyone would litter up that expensive car with those NASCAR decals nor not apply the Plymouth decal straight (see rear quarter panel).
Great photos! Even the photo of the camera itself is beautiful.
The most captivating car for me was the Lincoln. I am not a photo connoisseur or expert or anything. Like most people, I gave up film a long time ago and never did anything complicated with it anyway. Still, I can see the difference, even on the front shot of the Conti. Really impressive!
What is the name of the classic car dealer?
It is the Indianapolis location of Gateway Classic Cars.
Oh, god!
I really like the one with the Mustang reflected in the Continental.
I have noticed myself taking more of the close up detail shots the last few years, and I do think of them as the Jim Grey shots.
Nice snaps! I dug looking at the picture of the camera, too. Jeepers . . . the ’72 Lincoln was purdy. Luv the color. Metal art on wheels.
Primitive luxury cars from the ’70s. I like that thought.
Those really are some beautiful shots. They just seem richer and the paint looks deeper than digital pictures, though I’d be at a loss to explain why.
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