Classic Bentley
"Essence" of a Mercedes
Technique inspired by the unique work of Breck Rothage.
"Jaws"
1959 Cadillac, front, Morro Bay, CA; see Cars gallery for "Fins" view.
"Fins"
1959 Cadillac, rear, Morro Bay, CA
Flying Chrysler
1961 model "300" convertible
Lamborghini
See "Techy Stuff" gallery for how this was processed.
"Pray for this Car"
1956 Buick (what's left of it)
1949 Packard
I learned to drive in one of these beasts (at age 14, no less)! Never figured out what prompted my dad to do this; fortunately, there were a lot of deserted country roads near our house.
1940 Packard, interior
Thank goodness Dad traded it before I had to take my license test.
1939 Chevy
The first car I owned (in 1958, still with a learner's permit) was a black, totally trashed, one of these that I bought from a high school friend for $75. Repainted it with spray cans from the hardware store. It had a very strange vacuum-assist on the gear shift, which meant that when the engine didn't start (most of the time) I'd better be stopped in the right gear to get a push-start. Friends' parents also didn't appreciate the oil leaks all over their driveways. Traded for the '53 less than a year later.
1952 Chevy
The '52, '53, and '54 models were almost identical. I got rid of the '39 quickly, in favor of a used '53, in 1959. It was light green, probably around $200 (a fortune for a high school kid!).
1954 Chevy
My '53 didn't have the fancy Bel Air trim.
1954 Chevy, interior
My '53 was also stick-shift instead of the early automatic shown here.
1955 Chevy
Followed the '53 for me; mine was light green. It was a hand-me-down from my dad; my favorite model from that era.
Shown here is the "Nomad" station-wagon version; rear gate chrome was distinctive.
1955 Chevy, interior
No fuzzy dice for me!
'55, '56', and '57 models were all the same body; they were instantly distinguishable by the grill and taillights.
1956 Chevy
This year featured a "bullet" style taillight. It fit in exactly the same opening as the previous year's model; I might have changed them out just to be "cool."
1957 Chevy
My dad had bought one of these (used, light green again) two years earlier, so like the '55 it got handed down to me when I was in college. Unfortunately, he found the very cheapest model (vinyl floor mats, not carpet), and it had become so noisy that Mom refused to ride in it.
Fins were "in"! (I didn't have the fancy "Bel Air" trim, though.)
1963 Chevy
First job out of college, I bought (used, as always) a tan '62, which was very similar (although definitely not the Impala SS model). Lasted until I joined the Air Force a couple of years later.
1968 Ford Mustang
Mine was a '65, purchased from a senior officer just after I was commissioned. Super-cool car for a new 2nd Lt., but unfortunately the 3-speed model which was not synchronized into 1st gear. Ditched it after the second transmission blow-up.
"The Last Barber"
Long Beach, CA, driven to work and parked out front every day until the shop owner retired.
