Chrome. Tail fins. A rainbow of colors. All nostalgic characteristics of classic cruisers, a popular collectible here in Prescott -- and, I would guess, almost everywhere else in the USA.
I see them in my own neighborhood, where several old car fanciers live.
Although Prescott enjoys several antique/classic auto shows, a good place to see and compare cars everyday is the parking lot of American Classic Auto Parts up at Hillside and Miller Valley. I was too shy to pop into the store -- I'd have been totally out of place.
However, that doesn't stop me from admiring the window art -- and the inscriptions on the boxes below. Instead of
good, better and best, they offer
collector's choice, muscle car and antique tractor. Certainly tells you what's matters to this segment of our crazy culture.
A full view of the two-tone classic pictured at the beginning of this blog -- and (below) a yellow/white cruiser that I have seen around town quite regularly. Big. Beefy.
A shiny DeSoto here...
...an older vehicle that isn't quite so spiffy (above) and one that is truly in need of a new paint job (below). The chrome looks to be in good shape, however. Important, chrome is.
This auto's motor would seem to have serious issues.
While I am sure that collectors are salivating at the prospect of trade opening with Cuba where most vehicleson the street are well tended 60s models, they might try small, struggling towns such as Ash Fork AZ, where I took these pictures. Above, about the most prosperous looking business in town is crowned with a snazzy DeSoto; below, a machine just waiting for the right guy to show up with a check book.
Linkage: Alone on a Limb, down in Georgia, has included my post For the Birds on the March edition of the Carnival of Outdoor Education; thanks, Terrell. Here's yet another Prescott blogger, this time focused on big-time bicycling. And for art in motion, take a look at Kinetic World.
Unfortunately, our neighbor with the R.E.D. Model-T has moved to the outskirts of town where he can tinker in a big 6-car garage. He also took the purple sedan with him. So this non-El-Camino is the only R.E.D. vehicle left in the immediate area. I realize that it's not really an historic car, but it's a very distinctive one -- a bad compromise between a pick-up truck and a sedan. This is, after all, Prescott, where a pick-up is a he-man's ride. You'd have to carry awfully dainty junk in a car like this R.E.D. critter. The Corvair below has a little more history going for it. Currently, it's a student car.
A true collectible down the street from me. I like the fact that it hasn't been overly jazzed up; besides, it has tires that look to be close to the right diameter. Yesterday's sedan (below) may live in the neighborhood or may just be a regular visitor. Not flashy but nicely kemp, complete to the white sidewall tires.
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