Something about this shot grabbed me. I think it’s the fact that it looks so much like it could have been shot in the late ’70s or ’80s. It reminds me of simpler times.
And it reminds me of a similar Pontiac I was the caretaker of for a few months in the summer of 1977.
That one was a ’68 Catalina, almost exactly like this one. I was living out in San Bernardino that smoggy hot summer, at the remote studio for the new little tv station that we were all trying to get on the air. An old friend and her boyfriend dropped this Pontiac off, as they were going to Japan for the summer. The air was dreadful out there then, and come Friday night, I’d head west on I-10 to the ocean. I’d take the big Poncho instead of my Dodge van, roll down the windows, and savor the air getting steadily cooler and cleaner once I got half way up the valley or so. And by the time I hit downtown, it was really starting to get nice.
The Pontiac was a classic barge, and its shocks undoubtedly weren’t getting any better with age. But I enjoyed it; it was one of my big car bonding experiences. The 400 V8 was barely audible as it rolled towards the last gloaming of light over the Pacific. Driving back into the smog on Sunday night or Monday morning was always painful. Fortunately I arranged to transfer to the main West LA studio by September. The Pontiac was gone by then, which was just as well. I’d had my fun with it, but it wasn’t exactly my thing. Within a few months I’d found a Peugeot 404 for sale, which very much was my thing.
There really is something striking in this shot.
The huge old Pontiac, itself once beautiful and young, seems to be very protective of the kid as it sinks into the end of its days. Even as the kid is indifferent to the care offered, as is always the case.
(In mildly despondent mood today – it’s been a bit wet and grey – I add that the smog of San Bernardino isn’t like that now, solved during what seems now a golden period when science was respected. But we shall overcome).
That really does look like about 1975-80, except in my part of the country the car would have had some rust holes on top of the overall battering. Cars like this were common in newspaper classifieds for $250. A fabulous picture!
This is indeed a striking picture, with a battered old Pontiac giving its all to protect a child.
I’ll agree as this does have a 1975 to 1980 vibe to it. Although with the Chrysler minivan in the background it must be more recent – which adds to the allure of the Pontiac even more.
My guess is that the man is her grandfather who was watching her for the day, and the girl’s father or mother is taking the photo. She looks to be wearing his shoes.
Yep, the minivan is jarring on the mind and tells a very different story…maybe not even 20 years ago.
My first thought, looking at the damage, was it had just been involved in a fender bender.
Never a fan of the big fastbacks, but that 68 Catalina style sure looks very crisp compared to the mid 65 or 66 featured car.
I thought it was a vintage photo until I saw that pesky modern car.
My mind is wandering owing to the stay-at-homeness, so:
If these were the only four car models, which one would closest suit you?
President
Dictator
Patrician
Executive
Executive for me. I like Pontiacs.
Nobody had yet mentioned that “Executive” was the name Pontiac substituted once they decided that “Star Chief,” probably the last vestige of Pontuac’s Indian-mascot days, was passé.
Sorry about the misspellings. Sprained finger.
I’m thinking there was a year when the 2 names were used together: Star Chief Executive — maybe 1966 like the pictured car?
I lived in Whittier Ca. and worked in Downtown L.A. during 1983 and 1984. ( I was there during the Olympics) I was very happy to relocate again to the Bay Area in the beginning of 1985. I remember Stage One smog alerts where the air was so dirty that when you looked two blocks down the street, it looked like fog! I have maintained my love for L.A. and continue to visit over the years. I have seen the tremendous improvement in air quality thanks to concerted efforts by government and industry fueled by public’s need for a cleaner environment. Society cannot go backwards. Here’s a an old picture of L.A.’s air quality.
This so reminds me of my beater ’67 Bonneville. This would be 1990 or so. 400 four barrel. Good old sled, just a ton of body damage.
Friend of mines Mom drove one of these with a 400 and three on the tree.