Carmine
Old Man with a Hat
The Exner thread moved off into essentially who likes “fin” cars and who doesn’t. I like all eras of vehicles, thus I’m always surprised at the amount of strong opinions regarding certain cars that fail to see them in context, or as part of the time when they were new. I’m wondering how many feel the same way. Let me give you my thoughts era-by-era. My thoughts tend to be Mopar-centric, but I am interested in all the brands until I begin to note exceptions in the 70s.
Brass Era: Fascinating to me because they are so simple, so raw and mechanical. The use of wood, primitive sand castings, leather clutches, etc. If I lived in one of those awesome-weather senior communities where folk travel to the store on side roads at 30 MPH in electric golf carts, I’d love to have one of these cars just to put around and drive to Safeway for a loaf of bread.
20s: Still pretty simple, but cars are coming of age. First applications of new tech like hydraulic brakes or rubber engine mounts. Of course the Imperials (and other luxury cars) of the era are pure art.
30s: Now people are commuting to work daily in cars, in all weather. Things have gotten quiet enough to listen to a factory car radio. The Chrysler Airflow is way ahead of its time and an art deco masterpiece. It’s amazing to see how smooth and quiet a flathead is at idle.
40s: Styling takes a backseat and cars are now being used routinely for cross-country travel. Which is not to say they’re “ugly”… I would love a ’41 Plymouth, a ’42 Desoto, or but the separate sweeping fenders of the 30s are getting integrated and the emphasis seems to be on reliability and comfort.
Post War: I have a ’51 Imperial. You can see why the Hemi™ was such a big deal when it was introduced. The engine of this car feels very contemporary (as carbureted engines go) and despite its semi-automatic 2-speed transmission, it keeps up with modern traffic just fine. Yet so many other areas of the car feel “quaint”. Chair-height seats upholstered in wool, pedals that pivot through the floor, a split windshield, huge whitewall tires, etc. But still a real time machine that you can drive.
Early 60s: Love me some ’61 Imperial LeBaron (and have one). 1930’s Retro floating pod headlights mixed with Space-Age fins and wild colors. Not for the shy, even in black.
Mid 60s-Mid 70s: So much going on in this decade, but surely I need not argue that to this crowd.
Early 80s: Smogged-up, sized down, but lots of personality. Plenty of neat 80s stuff.
Late 80s: Don’t knock a turbo stick-shift until you try one. And there were still some cool rear drivers around…
Now I will admit that pickin’s get slimmer in the 90s, but Trucks and SUVs start coming on strong. I’d take any of these, and of course I did have one of them:
(1998 Jeep Cherokee 5.9 Limited; image that won't work)
By the modern era you of course have all the new Hemi, SRT, Challenger, etc. stuff. I will admit; there are now entire categories of vehicles that I detest, and would gleefully send to a shredder. Seeing them on US streets just plain makes me angry, because they look so much more at home in places like this:
My point is that I don’t lock into any one era of vehicle. I like the vast majority of vehicles from all different times, for many different reasons. It’s probably why I prefer “restored” or preserved vehicles vs. those that are modified. I suppose I like driving old cars for the same reason people climb rocks… Because it isn’t always easy, and the memories can be a lot of fun. But I also find much to enjoy in the modern era, maybe just the realization that there are still cars built with personality, albeit fewer each year.
Brass Era: Fascinating to me because they are so simple, so raw and mechanical. The use of wood, primitive sand castings, leather clutches, etc. If I lived in one of those awesome-weather senior communities where folk travel to the store on side roads at 30 MPH in electric golf carts, I’d love to have one of these cars just to put around and drive to Safeway for a loaf of bread.
20s: Still pretty simple, but cars are coming of age. First applications of new tech like hydraulic brakes or rubber engine mounts. Of course the Imperials (and other luxury cars) of the era are pure art.
30s: Now people are commuting to work daily in cars, in all weather. Things have gotten quiet enough to listen to a factory car radio. The Chrysler Airflow is way ahead of its time and an art deco masterpiece. It’s amazing to see how smooth and quiet a flathead is at idle.
40s: Styling takes a backseat and cars are now being used routinely for cross-country travel. Which is not to say they’re “ugly”… I would love a ’41 Plymouth, a ’42 Desoto, or but the separate sweeping fenders of the 30s are getting integrated and the emphasis seems to be on reliability and comfort.
Post War: I have a ’51 Imperial. You can see why the Hemi™ was such a big deal when it was introduced. The engine of this car feels very contemporary (as carbureted engines go) and despite its semi-automatic 2-speed transmission, it keeps up with modern traffic just fine. Yet so many other areas of the car feel “quaint”. Chair-height seats upholstered in wool, pedals that pivot through the floor, a split windshield, huge whitewall tires, etc. But still a real time machine that you can drive.
Early 60s: Love me some ’61 Imperial LeBaron (and have one). 1930’s Retro floating pod headlights mixed with Space-Age fins and wild colors. Not for the shy, even in black.
Mid 60s-Mid 70s: So much going on in this decade, but surely I need not argue that to this crowd.
Early 80s: Smogged-up, sized down, but lots of personality. Plenty of neat 80s stuff.
Late 80s: Don’t knock a turbo stick-shift until you try one. And there were still some cool rear drivers around…
Now I will admit that pickin’s get slimmer in the 90s, but Trucks and SUVs start coming on strong. I’d take any of these, and of course I did have one of them:
(1998 Jeep Cherokee 5.9 Limited; image that won't work)
By the modern era you of course have all the new Hemi, SRT, Challenger, etc. stuff. I will admit; there are now entire categories of vehicles that I detest, and would gleefully send to a shredder. Seeing them on US streets just plain makes me angry, because they look so much more at home in places like this:
My point is that I don’t lock into any one era of vehicle. I like the vast majority of vehicles from all different times, for many different reasons. It’s probably why I prefer “restored” or preserved vehicles vs. those that are modified. I suppose I like driving old cars for the same reason people climb rocks… Because it isn’t always easy, and the memories can be a lot of fun. But I also find much to enjoy in the modern era, maybe just the realization that there are still cars built with personality, albeit fewer each year.
