While travelling to a nearby town for a show put on by an area band, I passed this used car lot. The owner must like the old stuff, because there was a lot of it. It was Sunday and the lot was closed, but who among us has not admired a car through a chain link fence? Like this nice little ’53 Chevy. Somehow the skull and crossbones on the front license plate don’t seem to go with this car.
If you like your Chevrolets a little newer or with a folding top, howabout this nice ’66 Impala convertible?
Or, if your tastes run more upscale, here is a nice Skylark convertible. Or the red Skylark hardtop right next to it. Is this what it felt like at a small town Buick dealer in about 1969? There was a lot of GM iron, which is understandable. Anderson, Indiana was a GM manufacturing town for a long, long time. Remy Corp. (later Delco-Remy) and Guide Lamp were among the city’s largest employers going back the the 1920s or even before.
But not everyone drove GM cars. Wasn’t there a time when every used car lot in the country had a red Mustang? This ’65 was nice to look at, even if it had wheel covers from a ’67.
Three favorites to choose from here. Although the Chevelle and the Firebird are nice enough, I would probably be more inclined to take the El Camino for a spin. I have not seen a 1960 model in awhile.
If Curbside Classic’s theme colors are yellow and black, do you suppose Paul Niedermeyer would mind if I picked up the Buick as our CC midwestern staff car? “Hey, Paul. I know I should have asked, but you were out in the mountains somewhere, and the really nice salesman said that somebody else was ready to buy if I didn’t sign the papers today. Not for me, understand, but purely for the good of the website. ” If I were looking for myself, you see, I would prefer the Dart Swinger on the left.
Actually, I think I just found my favorite. A 1961 Studebaker Hawk with a 289 and a 4 speed. Come to think of it, I kind of do need a new car. “Hey, Honey – look how much money I just saved us! It’s so much cheaper than those new Hondas, and I made a really great deal on it.”
It’s a shame that ’68 malibu didn’t get at least one full pic. Brings back fond memories of my first car.
’55 Buick, if I remember correctly. Love the black and gold (or yellow).
Definitely a cool lot. I’ll take the rag top Skylark.
Depreciation on the Studebaker would lower than a new Honda too!
Love it. Change the color of that Bel Air and it becomes the car Ray Steven’s Grandmother drove in the video for “Mississippi Squirrel Revival.” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16fG1sDagU oh or is that a 54 model in the vid?
LOOOOOOOOOVE that 66 Impala Ragtop! What a great lotful of cars!
It has one of my all-time favorite front bumper and grilles. Just perfect.
There’s a “car lot” similar to that (but nowhere as nice) down the street from the fairgrounds here. The owner will buy an old car, do a little work on it, drive it for a bit, and sell it to someone else. The last time I checked, there was a rubber-bumper MGB (since sold), a rusty Beetle, a ’76 Duster, and my favorite, the ’65 Fairlane.
Crappy paint job or not, I still want that Ford. Dude didn’t even bother to clean the rust off… he just sprayed over it.
Nice car yard Id take the ElCamino or the Impala but if the prices are anything like the local asks Ill just keep going.
I’m with Bryce, I’ll take the ’60 El Camino. I love Studes, but if I came home with that ’61 bad things would happen. Now a ’53 Starlight maybe..
I’d take that Studebaker from that lot. If you are what you drive, what does driving a studebaker says about who you are?
Slighly cooler than Mr. Cunningham on “Happy Days.” I kid, I kid…
It means you appreciate more cars than just the new one’s or the one’s whose brands still exist.
Ha! Mr. Cunningham would’ve driven a deSoto…
Right and that’s why your slightly cooler than him! 😛
Here in Southern California we have numerous dealerships dedicated to selling classic and collector vehicles. Most of them are located in more affluent areas like Marina Del Rey, Hollywood, West L.A., and Beverly Hills. There’s even a place called Frank Corrente Cadillac that sells nothing but vintage Caddies.
My wife and I will be in SoCal on vacation next week – I may have to at least drive by the one in Marina Del Ray, our hotel isn’t far!
I’d love to own that ’66 Impala, but would prefer a red sports sedan to honor my dad, as that’s what he owned before and during my air force time. I already wear fedoras, the car would be the icing on the cake!
One of these (Charles Agapiou, on Santa Monica) is where I saw the only 300SL Gullwing I’ve ever seen in the flesh (in the sheetmetal?). Granted, it was through the garage window behind a cordon, but still… In LA you can have any car you want, provided you have the scratch–and some of the owners even have a sense of taste! 😉
I’m loving the old Stude. I wonder if I could fit a LSx motor in that thing… I kid, I kid…
There’s an iron lot down the road from me that has a lot of old iron in it. I will have to go there this weekend and see how the inventory is doing…
Good thing I don’t know the address. I’d probably be over there with a bag full of money, trying to buy that El Camino.
For some reason, the 1959 and 1960 El Camino models irrationally appeal to me…not unlike a blonde stewardess twenty years your junior, who you know is trouble…but you just have to ask her for her number….
I have the same problem. I will one day own a 59′ Elco.I like the 59 model so much better. Just so much more excessive!
Yea I’d go with 59 model. The fins are much nicer. Seems like the 60 had too much chrome.
Is there a better looking full size Chevy than that 66 convertible? I’d like mine in medium Turquoise like my fav aunt kate had…
the firebird is sweet, as is the 55 Buick.
The Skylark conv reminds me of our 69 Skylark than my Dad bought when he retired to save money(It was 8 years old)… I felt like I was driving a vacuum backwards when I drove that car. it sure looked like one in the read end.