Most males, and a few women, who have been alive over the last one hundred years have had some kind of love affair with automobiles. I was born at a crossroads of American automobile design. In 1949 American automobile manufacturers were finally coming out with new designs, far removed from the pre-war autos that had plied the highways since Pearl Harbor. They were lower, sleeker, faster, and they were based upon technologies developed during the war.
The first auto that I remember my father driving was a very used 1939 Packard. I remember sitting on the running boards in the parking lot of the Dairy Palace, in Tinley Park, eating ice cream. We sat out on the running boards because my dad didn't want us to drip on the upholstery and ruin it. The next car my dad drove was a 1953 Plymouth, which had such a large rear window shelf, that I used to sleep in it during long trips.
Another fact of life during the 1950's was the "Cold War", which wasn't really an actual war, but a disagreement between politicians and despots, so it took on a life of it's own until 1989, when all the old farts running the world finally got tired of it.
The most interesting thing about the "Cold War" and the Soviets, is that they apparently envied the United States. They would capture American planes, reverse engineer them, and build almost the exact same plane. What most people don't know is that they did the same thing with American automobiles. Even before the war against Hitler, the Soviets were recreating American autos. In 1946 they came out with the Zis110, an almost exact reproduction of the1942 Packard. Again in 1959, The Soviets produced the Zil111, a reproduction of the 1956 Packard. Even in the 1960's When Khrushchev was beating his shoe at the UN, the Soviets loved what Detroit was producing, and came out with a car that resembled a bizarro1964 Chevrolet.
The one thing I have found out about Soviet auto makers, is that they did take notice of one of my favorite cars of the 1950's. The 1950 Studebaker.
The first auto that I remember my father driving was a very used 1939 Packard. I remember sitting on the running boards in the parking lot of the Dairy Palace, in Tinley Park, eating ice cream. We sat out on the running boards because my dad didn't want us to drip on the upholstery and ruin it. The next car my dad drove was a 1953 Plymouth, which had such a large rear window shelf, that I used to sleep in it during long trips.
Another fact of life during the 1950's was the "Cold War", which wasn't really an actual war, but a disagreement between politicians and despots, so it took on a life of it's own until 1989, when all the old farts running the world finally got tired of it.
The most interesting thing about the "Cold War" and the Soviets, is that they apparently envied the United States. They would capture American planes, reverse engineer them, and build almost the exact same plane. What most people don't know is that they did the same thing with American automobiles. Even before the war against Hitler, the Soviets were recreating American autos. In 1946 they came out with the Zis110, an almost exact reproduction of the1942 Packard. Again in 1959, The Soviets produced the Zil111, a reproduction of the 1956 Packard. Even in the 1960's When Khrushchev was beating his shoe at the UN, the Soviets loved what Detroit was producing, and came out with a car that resembled a bizarro1964 Chevrolet.
The one thing I have found out about Soviet auto makers, is that they did take notice of one of my favorite cars of the 1950's. The 1950 Studebaker.
The first new car I remember my dad buying was a 1950 or 51 Studebaker just like the one Alan had parked in front of my apartment for a couple of years. I really wished he (Alan) would have had the money to completely restore it so I could ride around Wilton Manors in style. Palm Springs just had the Concours d'Elegance car show at the O' Donnell golf course. There were hundreds of beautiful and rare old cars driving around town all weekend. Those were the days. My favorites were the 1950's and 60's Chrysler products with the big fins.
ReplyDeleteNice historical info. I didn't know that. Thanks Alan.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone notice, I lost my European audience.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Garet for a change. Nice historical car information. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI do like classic car shows. I haven't found many gay guys that like to go to auto or boat shows. Why's that?
No porn...no audience.
ReplyDelete