Los Angeles

1953-55 International Harvester R110

Posted November 4, 2014 by The Professor

Powered by a 220 cubic inch inline six and a three-speed manual, the R110 was a popular truck in its heyday, back when International Harvester was still a major player in the light truck industry. Their market share began to dwindle through the 1960s, and by 1975 they had discontinued all trucks. The venerable Scout soldiered on until the 1980 model year, when International Harvester’s passenger car division was shuttered and the company moved on to heavy-duty trucks and school buses.

Century City, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed April 2013

1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible

Posted November 1, 2014 by The Professor

1972 was the last year for the classic second-generation Cutlass, and the last year of the Cutlass convertible until it was revived in 1990. Despite this, it was the best-selling convertible in America, with 11,571 sold out of 298,881 Cutlass Supremes total that year.

Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed March 2013

1967-78 Volkswagen Beach Buggy

Posted October 28, 2014 by The Professor

The 1977 is an educated guess based on the license plate, but in all honesty I have no idea what year this (car?) is, nor do I know who manufactured it.

The beach buggy craze was ignited by the introduction of the Meyers Manx in 1965, which was created by Bruce Meyers and made by crafting a custom fiberglass body and placing it on a shortened Volkswagen Beetle chassis. Since Meyers’ design was ruled unpatentable, other companies jumped onto the bandwagon and started to churn out their own fiberglass buggies. It’s estimated that over 250,000 copies of the Manx were produced, including the one pictured here. This ultimately crippled Manx’s company, which folded in 1971.

This particular example was spotted in the California beach town of Venice, an appropriate location for the quintessential beach car.

Venice, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed April 2013

1951 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe Convertible

Posted June 22, 2014 by The Professor

Steve McQueen owned one of these, and drove it in the final movie of his career–The Hunter (1980). His sold for $84,000 in 2013. With a standard 3-speed manual and an optional 2-speed Powerglide automatic, nearly 50% of the Stylelines sold were with the Powerglide, like the example pictured here.

This one was spotted at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

Elysian Park, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed May 2013

1987 Subaru GL-10 Turbo

Posted March 6, 2014 by The Professor

These turbo wagons are very few and far between. This one looks to be an original California car, as evidenced by its sunburst plate (the rarest modern California plate, even if this one’s a bit dirty). There’s not a whole lot of information to be had about this car (Wikipedia doesn’t even mention it), but it’s certainly a rare beast. The only thing that would make it even more Subaru would be the optional 4WD system that this one doesn’t have.

It’s these types of cars that I find the most interesting. The average person probably wouldn’t stop and look twice at it, but I find it fascinating, much more so than, say, a new Mercedes.

I mean, I must have seen dozens of Mercedes today, but this is the only GL-10 that I recall seeing in a very long while.

Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed May 2013

1957-62 Messerschmitt KR200 Kabrio

Posted March 3, 2014 by The Professor

Made by the company far more famous for producing fighter jets for the German Luftwaffe during World War II, the KR200 “bubble car” was originally conceived as a result of temporary sanctions against aircraft manufacturing in the Messerschmitt factories. When the sanctions were lifted in 1956, the rights to the car were sold to a man named Fritz Fend, who established a company called Fahrzeug-und Maschinenbau GmbH Regensburg (FMR); hence the “FMR” logo on the hood of this microcar.

It produced all of 9.9 horsepower and was shorter than the wheelbase of a new Chevrolet Impala. The last picture shows a stark juxtaposition between the hulking Bronco and the diminutive Messerschmitt–it looks like a diecast model. Definitely a model for those with a secure self-image as their head sticks out a few feet above the top of the car.

Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed January 2013

1964-65 Porsche 356 SC

Posted January 26, 2014 by The Professor

1964 was the most popular year for the 356 as well as being its second-to-last year of production. 14,151 ’64 models were sold out of a total 76,000 from 1948-1965. 1964 was also the first year of the most iconic Porsche ever: the 911.

This SC model is the most powerful Porsche 356 model ever built, with 95 horsepower and four-wheel disc brakes.

Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed May 2013

1967 Plymouth Barracuda

Posted January 21, 2014 by The Professor

Not the early ’70s Barracuda that’s most familiar to people, and not the original ’64-’66 model either. This is the 2nd-generation Barracuda, made from ’67-’69. The 1st-gen was heavily based on the popular Plymouth Valiant, even using many common parts. However, while the 2nd-gen was still based on the Valiant, it was completely redesigned with a specific model range. The 3rd and final generation was a completely separate model.

To debunk a common assumption–the Mustang did not come before the Barracuda (the ‘Cuda came about two weeks earlier).

Westside Village, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed May 2013