Vintage Snapshots: Black Americans And Their Cars – 1950s-1970s

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– Posted on February 5, 2025

Text by Patrick Bell.

Today we are going to add another chapter to our series on Black Americans and their cars, with some new photos added to the topic plus a pair that have appeared previously.  What I like about this gallery is that it is a moment captured in a day of the lives of regular hard working people along with their cars.  Some of them are obviously special occasions, but for the most part just everyday life.  As had been said before at CC, this did not get recorded much in the past for various reasons, especially in the lower socioeconomic communities.

Let’s start out with a young family likely at a family gathering.  They are leaning on a ’60 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Convertible Coupe which was the top of the line model.  In front of it is a ’51 or ’52 Plymouth, and behind a ’56 Dodge.  Across the street in the left background is a ’50 Buick 2 door Jetback Sedanet, and through the windshield of the Ninety-Eight looks like either a ’58 Chevrolet or Pontiac 4 door sedan.

A friendly looking gentleman with a clean ’50 Buick Super 4 door Tourback Sedan.

Grandma and Grandpa with their not too happy looking granddaughter out in the country with a sharp ’53 Pontiac Chieftain De Luxe 4 door sedan.

Here we have a working man posing with a ’56 Ford F-250 with a six cylinder and a damaged fender that someone clipped a pole with.  It appears like it is equipped for road repair work with roof warning lights. I can’t read the license plate location but it does look like a government agency style. He has the cowl vent open so it is a warm day. Behind it, looks like a twin to this truck.

The building on the left could be a school, so these folks could be educators. In the foreground a clean ’59 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Town Sedan and in the background a ’58 Buick Special or Century 2 door Riviera.

A parking lot located in a hilly area with a girl posing beside a sharp V8 powered ’58 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Sport Coupe with chrome exhaust tips. On the other side of it is a ’55 Pontiac Chieftain or Star Chief Catalina, and across the lot in front is a ’56 Ford Country Sedan.

A stylish looking lady posing on a ’54 or ’55 Nash Metropolitan convertible. The car in the background may be a ’35 or ’36 Ford 4 door sedan.

Another stylish lady, this one apparently in West Philadelphia, leaning on a ’62 Buick LeSabre or Invicta. In front of it is a ’56 Buick Special or Century 2 door Riviera, and in front of it a ’51 or ’52 Packard. Across the street is a ’47 to ’54 Chevrolet or GMC Advanced Design Panel. This may be a Sunday photo as the children behind the panel are in their best dress as well.

Here we have a man who is looking at something or someone in a ’62 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 Convertible Coupe. He is in a big city apartment complex location.

Now we have a couple of sharp dressers smiling for the camera while standing next to a ’59-’68 Mercedes-Benz W111 or W112 ‘Fintail’ model.

A pleasant looking lady standing next to a ’68 AMC Ambassador DPL 4 door sedan in a tropical location.

And yet another stylish lady with a ’63 Ford F-100 with the integral cab and bed, better known as the ‘unibody’. This would be the last year for that body style. Across the street is someone’s rolling project, a Volkswagen Type 1 that looks to be of the ’58-’62 vintage.

For our last shot we have a pair of hip dudes striking a pose next to a ’70 Pontiac Grand Prix with aftermarket wheels and some fancy pin striping.  In the background a ’70 Pontiac LeMans or LeMans Sport Hardtop Coupe.

Thanks for joining us and have a great day!

 

More Vintage Photos Here