60’s

1967 Fiat 600

Posted by The Professor

1963 Fiat 600 1963 Fiat 600 1963 Fiat 600 1963 Fiat 600

When I first spotted this car on the streets of Paris, I thought the 600 was just like a slightly enlarged 500. In fact, the 600 was released 2 years prior to the introduction of the far more famous 500, so I suppose the Fiat 500 is a shrunken 600.

The Spanish car company SEAT built this car under license for 17 years (1957-1973) as the SEAT 600, which helped provide cheap transportation for Spanish families; it is an iconic car in Spain, more so than in Italy, where the Fiat 500 is the iconic one. 2,695,197 Fiat 600s were produced along with 737,319 SEAT 600s.

Paris, France

Photographed July 2013

1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible

Posted by The Professor

1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible

The Corvair, of course, was highlighted in Ralph Nader’s book Unsafe at Any Speed, after which sales fell more than half from 220,000 in 1965 to less than 110,000 the next year. Nader’s book crippled the reputation of the Corvair, and sales never recovered.

This is not the most attractive example of a Corvair imaginable–the knockoff wire wheels and the drab color and trim do nothing to help its looks. However, it is a fairly-well preserved example of a none-too-common convertible model, which makes it a worthy picture target.

Santa Monica, CA

Photographed February 2012

1957-62 Messerschmitt KR200 Kabrio

Posted by The Professor

1959 Messerschmitt KR200 Cabrio 1959 Messerschmitt KR200 Cabrio 1959 Messerschmitt KR200 Cabrio 1959 Messerschmitt KR200 Cabrio 1959 Messerschmitt KR200 Cabrio 1959 Messerschmitt KR200 Cabrio

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 by The Professor

1964 Porsche 356 SC 1964 Porsche 356 SC 1964 Porsche 356 SC 1964 Porsche 356 SC1964 Porsche 356 SC

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 by The Professor

1967 Plymouth Barracuda 1967 Plymouth Barracuda 1967 Plymouth Barracuda 1967 Plymouth Barracuda 1967 Plymouth Barracuda 1967 Plymouth Barracuda

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