Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed April 2011 & June 2015
California
1974 Chevrolet Nova
Changes for the 1974 Nova included a new bowtie emblem and larger parking lights. Nova sales increased to almost 400,000, perhaps in response to the oil crisis in the Middle East.
El Segundo, CA
Photographed November 2014
1967 Plymouth Fury III
Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed December 2012
1975 Ford Gran Torino
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed April 2011
1953-55 International Harvester R110
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
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
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
1954 Packard Patrician
The last real flagship of the famed Packard line, the 1954 model was the last to boast Packard’s straight eight engine before a new V8 was introduced with the 1955 restyle. Just 2,760 found buyers in 1954, showcasing the decline of the Packard marque, which would disappear after 1958.
El Segundo, CA
Photographed November 2013
1965 Chrysler New Yorker
The 1965 New Yorker was a fresh redesign penned by Chrysler’s chief stylist Elwood Engel, with many styling features resembling the famed 1961 Lincoln Continental, also designed by Engel. 21,110 buyers sprang for the sedan in 1965, no doubt attracted by the 340 horses under the hood.
El Segundo, CA
Photographed November 2013
1951 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe Convertible
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
1969 Ford Thunderbird
Santa Monica, CA
Photographed April 2011
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Spotted on La Mesa Drive in Santa Monica, CA. The houses on the other side of the street overlook the Riviera Country Club and go for $7-15 million. So this is probably some rich guy’s toy. But it’s cool anyway. Look how shiny it is!
Santa Monica, CA
Photographed June 2011