Recently, I accompanied my wife and daughter on a roadtrip that covered nine states. Enjoying the temperate climate well south of the Mason-Dixon Line, I figured a bumper crop of CC finds were waiting to be found.
However, I was painfully incorrect about finding any CC fodder (at least in the wild). The closest I came was this 1954 Chevrolet found on static display in Metropolis, Illinois, on the way home. I suppose one could make the case Chevrolet was the Superman of the American automotive industry at that time.
Having returned (almost) empty-handed, I offer the next best thing…miscellaneous pictures found on my camera. Over the years its memory has filled and things need to be purged. Who says one should only do cleaning in the spring? So here goes; I don’t think any of these have been published previously.
This Cadillac is local and has been taunting me for several years. My spotting of it has always been at this intersection, which even in person it somehow seems to be dwarfed by a Ford Escape and a Hyundai. Someday I’ll find it parked alone somewhere…
This modified Pinto wagon was periodically seen around town for a few years then suddenly evaporated.
It has been modified into a pseudo-hearse of sorts. I’ve been intending to share it at Halloween for the better part of a decade.
This Pinto was captured down the street from the Missouri State Penitentiary. This is the facility that once hosted boxer Sonny Liston and gangster “Pretty Boy” Floyd.
Have we ever covered a 1973 Oldsmobile Tornado? It appears we have not. Are two pictures enough for a full-blown write-up? It could be.
I found this Toronado in Mexico…Missouri. Although it was barely in Mexico as you can see the city limit sign for the adjacent town in the preceding picture.
Long ago I wrote up a 1972 Toronado, saying the Toronado was the most malleable car of its time. If it isn’t, it’s like Sonny Liston and is a contender for the title.
For the sharp-eyed viewer, here is the 1967 Plymouth Fury seen in the background of the second Toronado picture.
Why can I envision the original owner being named Clarence? I can also envision him as being a no nonsense WWII vet and having about five kids.
I can also envision Clarence’s wife being named Berniece, with Berniece having a penchant for deer hunting. Goodness knows one could likely haul a nice sized buck in the trunk of this Plymouth.
This 1968 Dodge half-ton (I could be off by a year or so either direction) could easily be Clarence’s pickup. Just not with those wheels. Why buy wheels when it already has them?
For as few of these as were built, their survival rate seems quite admirable.
These Dodges were also made in the bouncier, less capacity short-bed variety such as this one from 1970. Clarence would never have bought a short-bed pickup. The kids have more room to stretch out with a long-bed.
A family where I grew up had a Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport similar to this 1986 model. Ironically, the father’s first name was Ford.
When I first became involved with CC back in 2012, the GM A-body was a popular item. What was not popular among the A-bodies of the time, at least in sales, was the Pontiac 6000, particularly the wagon.
This is not the definitive color for a Pontiac 6000 wagon. I’m not sure what that color would be, but this isn’t it.
This 1978 to 1980 Grand Prix was also the least popular of GM’s rear-drive A-bodies. The A-body didn’t go front drive until about 1982.
While I like the headlight and blinkers acknowledging the 1977 Grand Prix, it just doesn’t work as well in this smaller package.
A number of years ago we made a trip to Sioux City, Iowa. This Ford Aerostar and Dodge Shadow pair was found in the hotel parking lot – near a 1981 Ford Granada.
My daughter had something going on there, so I had free time to explore.
Exploring the Sioux City area, I visited a car and aviation museum on the west end of town. This 1975 Oldsmobile ambulance was very hard to overlook.
It had more presence than a wolverine in a chicken house…
…it made this Buick hearse look like a wallflower.
From the firewall forwards, this Buick reminds me of a LeSabre about which I did not know what to say.
While I have zero desire to own one, I do admire and respect the work that goes into building these special purpose vehicles.
This Jeep was also delightfully purpose built. If memory serves, it still had the OHC six in place.
I forget the name of this museum, but it is well worth a visit.
Facing the Jeep was this 1971 Thunderbird sedan.
For some reason I find it rather fetching, perhaps even glamorous, Bunkie Beak and all.
Elsewhere in Sioux City was a train museum that also featured a few motorized vehicles, such as this International (I’m thinking that’s where I found this one).
Put a little air in the tires and it’s likely ready to do whatever is asked.
Definitely from the train museum was this 1960s Ford tanker truck. Several years back, I saw a Ford tanker of this vintage still in service at a regional airport. The airport Ford had. a gasoline fed straight-six. I’d be curious to know what propelled this particular Ford.
A Sioux City historical museum located downtown had this Diamond T truck. This truck had been owned for years by a local contractor and had hauled countless tons of material for building roads in the area.
The town of Rosebud is about an hour east of me. Every once in while if the town comes up in conversation, I am overwhelmingly tempted to whisper “Rosebud” when referring to it. Why? That is the one part of the movie Citizen Kane I can remember. Or perhaps seen. I’ve tried watching the movie several times but always fall asleep doing so.
On US 50 near Rosebud is this static display of two early 1950s model Dodge trucks.
One is slacking off by being empty but the other is still packing a load.
It’s carrying a decrepit 1969 Dodge Charger, a fantastic load to carry.
Something tells me this carcass may still have considerable value to someone, somewhere. Might it have started life as a SE/RT car? Likely not; it probably had a 318.
They do go well together for the purposes of a roadside display.
I should start documenting all the old trucks I keep seeing used as advertisements or outside displays at various businesses. A gas station near my house has a Ford Model TT truck for such purposes; yesterday I saw a mid-1930s Chevrolet truck advertising an antique store.
Nearby was a 1970 Dodge Charger in infinitely better condition. The blue suits it very well.
At some point in the past I stumbled onto this Dodge pickup hauling something that looks Mopar-esque. What else would it be? Brand loyalty is still a thing for some.
Sure enough, it appears to be a 1971 or 1972 Plymouth Road Runner. I am hoping it has been resurrected since this picture was taken some years ago.
That’s all for today. I have really tried to keep this short.
You didn’t indicate just how far South you got, but I can confirm that Middle Georgia is full of DD CCs. As my Dad gradually lost the battle with dementia in the 20-teens, I’d see dozens on the road every time I’d make the trip down for a visit. I only took time to write one of those up: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-outtake/curbside-outtake-1982-87-chevrolet-el-camino-the-cc-that-time-forgot/
The International fire truck is likely an L-150 or thereabouts (definitely an L-series, with the Comf-O-vision™ cab). Very similar to the L-170 I owned for a few years before the tornado at the farm moved it off my project list.
We were ultimately in Orlando but saw lots of Georgia. We avoided interstates as best we could. We took US 84 (or is it 82) from Dothan, Alabama, to Valdosta, Georgia, then the I-75 racetrack to Orlando. On the way back, we took 92 from Tifton to Albany; that leg was at night. We then continued on from Albany to Columbus, then back to Birmingham, then up to Nashville.
I saw the signs for Plains, Georgia, and thought about visiting Billy Carter’s gas station (if it’s still there) but we did not have time.
What I could see of Albany was nice, but we didn’t see much during the day as this was early November. I do know the motel in Albany had chickens roaming around, which I rather enjoyed seeing.
You passed within an hour of us on your way up to Nashville!
Great post, Jason! Thanks for sharing your camera-roll of photos-taken-for-some-reason-that-might-well-be-CC-posts eventually. I have a whole folder of these things; and even though I haven’t been at it nearly as long as you, I already cannot remember exactly why I shot some of these things. Every picture though has a story. Somewhere.
I really like the Pinto Hearse. At least from the distance of the photos, whoever created it seems to have done a good job with it and really should have painted it. It must have been some kind of car advertising a business, especially since it’s on it’s own little parking pad. I wonder what the business was.
And yes, Rosebud. I’ve made the same reference. Although not anywhere near as often as I’ve found reason to express the 2nd best line from Citizen Kane…”In XANADU did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree!” Best stated in that 1930s newsreel announcer voice as it opens the movie.
Thanks. It’s a shame to have so many pixels dedicated to pictures that are never shown or shared. I suspect I have more on my old computer.
Thinking about it, those Pinto pictures are over a decade old. It was parked in front of an old, abandoned shoe factory (which was no doubt staffed by prison labor at one point, given the proximity adjacent to the prison grounds) and was advertising a haunted house inside the shoe factory.
You are correct about the story being somewhere. I have no clue where I was at when taking pictures of the Dodge and Road Runner combination.
Nice pix! That ’67 Fury is the *exact* twin of the Fury we bought in Summer 1967, in preparation for our August road trip from rural Western Illinois to Canada/New England to visit the swell Expo ’67 in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Vermont. It had the 318, Torqueflite, PS, AM radio, tinted glass, and that very fine Airtemp factory A/C (our first car with A/C); our previous car had been a sporty ’65 Fury III coupe…
By then the Interstates had been mostly comp!eted, and those long summer road trips went much faster, not to mention more comfortable with that nice A/C. The new motels (Holiday Inns…) with pools, nice restaurants, and clean modern rooms were a real step up from the dumps we’d previously encountered since the late 50’s. Also, with Interstates there was no more fear of those pesky small – town speed traps…
I was great fun to see all these, Jason (whether on the street, parked, or under a roof), and you spin a story line with great charm. As to the Toronado: it and GM’s Riviera captivated this Ford Guy in the mid-late 1960s, but soon enough the Toronado just “didn’t look like a Toronado” anymore—to me.
Pinto Hearse: That sure gave me the giggles! Internet says it was built as static prop for a Haunted House: more pictures of it (in better condition) here, which you’re welcome to poach: https://jaylake.livejournal.com/1317463.html?
This has got to be it. However, you now have me intrigued. The location says “Nuevo Rancho Lake”. There is nothing of that name I know of; in fact, Google doesn’t recognize it (or at least in the manner I ask).
Regardless, I indeed found it as a prop for a haunted house located in an abandoned shoe factory.
I am another who has collected an assortment of single shots. And need to follow your leD in sharing them.
I was hoping for a close-up of the 74-ish Chrysler that lurked in the same background as the 67 Fury III. That big 67 Plymouth is another fave of mine, and I have a hard time deciding if I like it more or less than the 1965-66 version.
For reasons no longer known, I have no pictures of that ’74 Chrysler. This particular location has had cars I have shown before. Not sure what the story is, but it is generally worth driving the 1/4 mile out of the way just to see what might be waiting.
Sharing your single shot pictures like this is cathartic.
As I recall three of us took pictures of that yellow Pontiac 6000 wagon and none of us did anything with them until you now did. The definitive color for a 6000 wagon is black, btw 🙂
That museum appears to be the Mid-America Museum of Aviation and Transportation right next to the Sioux City Airport, site of the 1989 United Airlines flight 232 crash (about which which they have an excellent sub-exhibit). Great little museum, well worth the slight detour if passing through there.
I seem to remember you visited the Mid-America museum shortly before (or after) I did. Either way, it was within a close time period. They had some good stuff there.
We likely have a dozen pictures of that Pontiac wagon between the three of us. It was in rather good condition.
-SO- many nice oldies ! .
I like the ’54 Chevy sedan, the 53’s had, (IMO) prettier if less safe tail lights .
I hope the mini hearse wasn’t scrapped ! . I like Hearses / Ambulances and small vehicles, this fits the bill nicely and I think is pleasing to the eye .
I can imagine Don Knotts driving ant of those Dodge pickups .
The Kaiser Ambulance is sweet ~ so few didn’t rust out .
Thank you for all the great pictures and comments .
-Nate
Our “Chevy”, when new, might have looked like that “54”. (slightly, lighter green).
By the , early “60’s”. when I can recall seeing it (vaguely), it wasn’t so nice.
Some excellent finds there. I rather like the quad headlight front end on the Pinto; I’m surprised that Mercury didn’t use one like that for the Bobcat.
The double Dodge combo is a veritable piece of art.
The quad headlights on the Pinto rather improve the appearance. It seems less bug-eyed than does a stock Pinto.
I will confess…my SD card announced being full while attempting to get video of an Amphicar in use.
That Pinto is amazing on a number of fronts. The quad headlights is indeed a nice upscale look that would have made the Bobcat quite a bit more special. The rear wings a wild and oversized but certainly an attension grabber.
Great shots, my fave is the 1968 Dodge half ton (but with the original wheels, please)
Thanks! And I agree about the wheels.
That Olds ambulance looks like something out of Ghostbusters!
That was my first thought too – the remake, not the original with the ’59 Cad. I barely remember sedan-based ambulances.
If I remember correctly, that Olds had belonged to a small town in that area and was in service for around 30 years.
Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport:
Notice the Sears store in the background. An appropriate back drop for such a vehicle. Both faded into history as time passed.
I was thinking the same thing. And I can’t actually remember if I’ve seen a Celebrity or a Sears store more recently than the other.
Good catch. That particular Sears store closed with the first wave of Sears closings; it has been a few years.
I’m glad you posted these – I too have an ever-expanding photo collection of cars I’ve photographed and then never gotten around to writing up.
I love the ’67 Fury here, and can absolutely see Clarence piloting the Fury with a stoic Bernice in the passenger seat.
A Pontiac 6000 has been on my wish-list of cars to photograph for a while, but have had no luck.
And here’s a Coupe deVille companion to your Sedan deVille – saw this one back in September around here:
That is a nice Cadillac – and with a steel roof, no less. Like I told JP, post your one-offs. Doing so is weirdly cathartic.
There is a 6000 sedan about fifteen miles south of me. I see it often. It appears to have been repainted – with a brush. The bad thing is there is no good way to photograph it, which stinks.
Wow, without the vinyl roof, that looks positively freaky!
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The “67 Plymouth, in the background of the “Toronado”, pic is like the one some neighbors got.
Was garage kept, still their one car until the mid “80’s”.
The lady had passed away. Think the man either could no longer live on his own or something.
House went up for sale round “1986”.
Wow, what a great collection Jason, thank you! Excellent photo-taking, as well.
The Pontiac 6000 wagon was relatively rare, when new. This woodie version is exceptionally unique. Love, how the modern traffic is providing the Sedan deVille lots of space (and respect). I believe LT Dan owned a similar white Roadrunner.
Really enjoyed this!
WHAT A FINE COLLECTION and EXCELLENT NARRATIVE. I stopped my work to look at these and I am glad that I did. What you bring to us is Americana. That VW shortened up int he last picture must be a disaster to drive. Keep ’em comin’!
That Celebrity is a 1986 model, both it and the Caprice got facelifts that year but didn’t get the aero headlights that it was clearly meant for until the 87s. And the 2 door Eurosport’s so rare I’d forgot they made them.
I’d vote for light metallic blue, no woodgrain, as definitive for the 6000 wagons, that’s what the brochures showed for years.
I was enamored of an ’86 6000 wagon on a dealer show floor, having owned an ’84 Buick Century Estate at the time. The Buick was a former Hertz car and was very comfortable on a round trip from Minnesota to Sunnyvale, CA.
The rear end of that Toro brings to mind the bladed tail lights of the 1967 Eldorado, combined with a suggestion of the Mark IV’s faux “continental kit” design.
Some terrific finds, Jason!
Okay… I, for one, am a fan of the “Medium Prix”. It’s not my favorite midsize GM A-body PLC (the Olds Cutlass), but I had come to appreciate that GM didn’t ladle every single design cue of the outgoing Colonnade onto the new, smaller car.
I feel like that Pinto hearse, for all of what looks like a decent job on the body work, deserves / deserved a better date than the crusher. It’s amazing what quad lamps do for the looks of it. Paint it all black and give it to some kid who’s a fan of the movie “Harold & Maude” (as am I).