Today’s virtual travelogue pays a visit to NYC with photos taken between 1978 and 1979. To those who lived in the city at the time, these should bring quite a few memories of the period. While to those who only met it through media, they should still feel the period vibes as if out of a Woody Allen or Scorcese movie. Starting with the first image and that multitude of Yellow Cabs.
Busy place.
At least five images, show a late model full-sized Ford. And five images, show either a Dodge Aspen, or Plymouth Volare. Perhaps indicative, of their popularity.
Interesting, to see the Toyota Land Cruiser, in the third image.
I remain a fan of the original less formal roofline on the first M-Body LeBarons and Diplomats. (As seen in the last pic.)
wow these are the sharpest pictures I seen on this website, fantastic
Amongst the usual stuff, it’s fun to see a Capri (with a bumped bumper), an Audi 5000, a Peugeot 504 and of course the FJ40 Land Cruiser.
Very pretty .
Also a good reminder of why I don’t miss living Down East .
-Nate
In those years 78, 79 and early 80’s, the Peugeot 504 and 505 diesels began to circulate in New York as taxis. After a few years they were replaced by the Chevy Caprice.
I love those 1978-80 Oldsmobile Cutlass coupes, like the one seen in the first image, far more than the ’81 and later ones.
Sorry, I meant the second image.
I had a ’77 Ford LTD II like the one seen in the first image. I miss that car!
Amazing. I love all of these photos. Where can I buy the book? The concentration of Dodges in the last photo during Chrysler’s dark period of the ’70s!
EDIT: Whoops – the dove gray sedan is actually a Chrysler LeBaron (lettering on the rear panel).
I think I see a Pinto Cruisin’ Wagon a few cars ahead of a pretty nice silver Aspen.
Quite a few Checker cabs still rollin’ at that time…
What is the very tall white building in the fourth photo?
Thank you! This is the New York City I remember as a child. I don’t think I ever saw a Royal Monaco cab in person. As a very young car enthusiast, it was almost (wonderfully) overwhelming trying to keep up with everything I saw.
That is 1 Centre St….. Amunicipal building housing many of the city’s administrative offices. Also, I’m fairly sure it was the spot where the Crocodile Dundee “now that’s a knife” scene was filmed
Second to last picture shows the Dakota Apartment building. It was thrust into the world news Dec 8, 1980 with the assassination of John Lennon.
There’s a whole lot of malaise here but I find the silver Aspen coupe in the last pic rather handsome, sans vinyl roof. I really love the Mopar C-body taxi with hidden headlights, too (Monaco or Fury?).
These are great sharp pictures. I appreciate and respect them as window into another time, although they definitely represent a place I’m perfectly happy to “admire” only from afar…both then and now.