As I look back through my previous essays at Curbside Classic, I realize there have been a few, specific models to which I’ve often returned. I’ve tried to vary my subject vehicles to include some I haven’t read or thought about recently, but as I’ve scrolled through my output here over the past nine years, it appears I’ve written about Mustangs, El Caminos, Corvettes (especially C3s), and Eldorados with significant frequency. The trick has been in spacing such pieces out among all of my other essays. When I had first sat down to write this one, it was hard to believe that this would be my last entry of new content for 2024, as CC will soon be featuring our “Best Of Year” reruns during the holidays.
I’ve learned some important life lessons during almost a decade of being a contributor here. It’s fun to see when an article I had previously written, normally from six years prior to the current date, gets selected for rescheduling. As I’ve seen fit and as relevant, I’ve incorporated many details of my own life and experiences into whatever I’ve chosen to say about a featured car, so reading my previous articles has sometimes felt like reading old journal entries. On some days, I’ve made myself laugh with what I had written before, as I recognize that I would have probably used those exact same words if I was to write that essay at present from scratch. On other days, it’s clear that I was in a pensive and sometimes even a dark place. All of the time, my thoughts as expressed in my words have seemed authentically mine. That’s one of the things I care most about when presenting my ideas.
Writing for this site unexpectedly turned into one means of personal growth for me, not only with developing the self-discipline to compose and edit a new essay on what has been a weekly basis since the start of this decade, but also in honing my innate skills in diplomacy as well as learning how not to be reactive. For instance, for every one commenter who would soil their pants over seeing pictures of a car with custom wheels they didn’t like, there would be three other readers who had something interesting to say about the main ideas being presented. Differences in personal tastes are a fact of life, and acceptance of this makes everyone better. The truth is that you are the only person best suited to be you. It’s also true that not everyone has to like everything. It boils down to whether or not there’s a show of respect for the right of another to be different from you.
I remember the night I took these shots. I was home in Flint this past summer during the week of the annual Back To The Bricks car festival, and I was walking to my rental car, a newish Toyota Corolla which had served me well that entire week. When this ’71 Eldorado convertible appeared, it was a moment of pure joy at the intersection of Beach and Second. The car itself was resplendent in its candy apple red paint, which reflected light like glass. The owner was beaming with pride against a backdrop of billowing clouds that swept across the fading dusk sky. The pavement glistened with the lingering moisture of the light rain that had fallen that evening and late afternoon. In fact, this was the first year I had ever attended “B2B” (as we Flintstones affectionately refer to this happening) and experienced any kind of rain.
There were the random sounds of revving motors and rumbling exhaust notes punctuating the air, combined with the other ambient sounds of summer in the city: crickets, the steady drone of traffic from a main thoroughfare, bass and beats from the stereo of a passing car… There was the beating of my own heart, bursting with pride to be back home in the place that formed so much of who I remain today. My strength, resilience, directness, and sense of belonging to a diverse collective were all fostered there in the broken beauty of Flint, Michigan. I do not know the gentleman behind the wheel, but he gestured broadly behind the wheel as if to give me full permission to snap my frames. To be in Flint that week is to feel a powerful, palpable sense of belonging to a “we”, no matter your background, where you’re from, or how long you’ve been away.
I had no idea at the time of taking these photographs that an Eldorado convertible from the first year of this redesign (which was still technically a “Fleetwood” that year) was such a relatively rare car, with only 6,800 originally produced. The original base price of $7,751 translates to almost $60,000 in 2024, which sounds about right as a new 2025 CT5 Sport starts at around the latter figure. What vehicle needs 8.2 liters (500 cubic inches) of V8 power with 365 horsepower and 535 pound-feet of torque? This 4,700 pound convertible. To me, the easiest way to differentiate the ’71 versus the ’72 Eldorado are the block letters on the rear of the front fenders, versus the script “Eldorado” badges near the front side marker and cornering lights that appeared for ’72.
As I reflect on my 2024 while looking back at my Curbside contributions for the year, it seems like it has been a particularly eventful year for me, as I’ve explored much of my city and shot more frames in one year than I can honestly ever remember having done before. The challenge always remains to not repeat myself as I look for more and varied subject matter. I’m originally from Flint, though, and I don’t back down from a challenge unless it’s a calculated decision that I fully own. As we all get ready to say “deuces” to 2024, I look forward to seeing many of you next year as I set about to present a fresh crop of subjects for 2025’s Curbside Musings as captured through the lens of my trusty Canon.
Downtown Flint, Michigan.
Friday, August 16, 2024.
The 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado brochure page was sourced from www.oldcarbrochures.org.
Top shelf Cadillac Eldorado. Beautiful car.
I must say that this hit home with me. When I was offered the chance to write, I didn’t realize how much good it would do.
6 years ago, at the age of 55, I was told I could no longer work. It took 33 different appointments and many X-rays and MRI’s before we found that my spinal canal is too small for my spinal cord. This is known as spinal stenosis, but I’m an anomaly in that mine is top to bottom.
When we moved from central Florida to the tri cities of Tennessee, we brought along my mother in law and father in law. I had a sense of purpose.
My mother in law passed last July and my father in law, whom I’ve written about, is in his twilight years.
I’d become lazy. Now, I get that wake up e-mail from Rich lookin for another submission about one of the 75 vehicles we’ve own over our 40 years of marriage, and I have purpose.
Here, here, Joe!
To me, this is another example of “it’s not the what but the how” or “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey”. Every week you present a vehicle and while I may or may nor be enamored of that particular vehicle, I am always a fan of how you present it and the story you weave around whatever is rolling along in front of your Cannon. There are plenty of places where I could learn all about the technology behind one car or another, but it’s here on CC that I come to read about how various authors make sense of technology, ideally in their own lives.
I’m not sure what the coming year will bring, but I’m glad to know there will be a fresh crop of subjects coming from Mr. Dennis.
+1 from me!
Joe, you’ve written many relatable and timely (for me, at least) articles over the years. This one, particularly the first three paragraphs, are the most relatable yet.
Like you, I have reread some of my pieces from long ago. Some bring happiness; others make me question what I was thinking. In most cases, I can remember what was happening in life at that time to predispose me in the direction I took with the narrative. For instance, I long ago had a piece about a black 1970 or 1971 AMC Ambassador coupe where I talked about hunting – not necessarily wildlife, but the need to seek and capture things. Of course, I wrote that in a hotel room in Merrillville, Indiana, between requests from my wife to go find this or that as she and daughter were at a convention.
Unlike you, the frequency of anything showing up here having my name in the byline has diminished tremendously. Too many goings on with aging parents, home needs, and other life matters (like buying a new car on a Monday, then having to replace your heat pump on Wednesday). The Best of 2024? If I have anything worthwhile, I’ll be shocked. I have yet another piece coming up Friday in which I have a narrative between one-off and miscellaneous pictures I have accumulated. Such pieces are about all I can generate these days.
However, as I approach 13 years being involved with CC, I am also like you in how I have enjoyed myself and developed over that time. Being here has introduced me to people I would have otherwise never met, given me experiences that would not have happened, and added a nice layer to life.
Joe, keep doing what you are doing. 2024 has been a decent year, and here’s to 2025 being even better!
2024…Where did it go? Sad to say, time goes by faster now than it did in 1971. Great musings, as usual. Best of the season to you and yours.
Joe, keep the articles and photos coming as they’ll make 2025 a more enjoyable year. I love seeing your Edgewater community photos, and I am very pleased each time you post another article.
As is the case so often, except for those wheels…
“It’s also true that not everyone has to like everything. It boils down to whether or not there’s a show of respect for the right of another to be different from you.”
One of the best things you have ever written – applies not only to our automotive interests, but generally…
What a beauty ! .
I like the introspection and looking back too as is normal as the end of another year looms .
These fine cars have so much presence .
My Sweet lives in South Central Los Angeles and there are quite a few middle age and older men who have like new Caddy drop tops from the late 60’s through the early 70’s, every Sunday I see them drive by as we’re going out for coffee, maybe one day I’ll follow them, I bet there’s a nice cars & coffee nearby .
It’s heartening to see the many young folks here enjoying older vehicles of any stripe, Land Yachts are never going to be made again so I love seeing them out and about .
Please have a hood and SAFE holidays everyone, I look forward to reading more articles .
-Nate
Once again, thank you Joseph for your dedication and insightful essays. I have been truly moved by your commitment to a fixed weekly slot and your ability to keep finding interesting perspectives, insights and observations.
As to the custom wheels on the Eldo convertible, having just finished reading the definitive history of Cadillac, it’s utterly obvious that bold wheels (and custom ones) were a very key aspect of the styling of the classic Cadillacs (and other prestige cars) in the classic ’20s and ’30s.
There’s a reason why cars are so often referred to as “wheels”. It’s their most universal feature yet they can also be their most distinctive ones. This one is perfect; stock wheels would hardly be noticeable in that evening light.
As always I enjoyed this Tuesday morning read. Thanks Joseph! As for the car – not a huge fan, but the pictures jumped out at me for the lighting, the flag in the background, and especially that big “cornering lamp”. I didn’t notice the wheels till I read the comments. They don’t bother me. Happy holidays to all!
Joseph, thank you for another year of contributions. Your articles are very enjoyable as they blend the commentary on the car with recollections of your own life, which makes them so personal and special. I like the way that you capture the cars in motion, which is really the best way to see them, since they are designed for movement.
There are many that don’t care for custom wheels on vintage cars, but in my opinion these bigger wheels fit into the wheel openings just right, and the car is not raised up to make them fit, like in the typical, high riding donk. I initially found the bigger ’71 and up Eldo a bit of a let down at first, the knife edged ’67-’70’s were so impressive and sleek looking. A real dream car for a young Cadillac enthusiast like I was at the time. Now the ’71 looks a lot better in retrospect compared to what followed it by the end of the ’70’s.
Like you, I have enjoyed and benefited from my collaboration with CC, it was quite the thrill to see my contributions posted. I want to wish the entire community the hopes for a Happy Holiday season and a Happy New Year.