Antique & Classic Cars Blog

Go ten steps at this show without seeing something interesting and you’re probably on the phone or trying to keep ketchup from dripping on your Back to the ‘50s shirt.

Here’s a couple more interesting rides–some stock and some what stock would have looked like if the car weren’t an owner creation instead of a manufactured model.

Ah yes… Remember the ’55 Chevy El Camino? Neither do I. Chevy didn’t get around to building that model until 1959. But the raw materials were there earlier. This Pre-Camino uses a station wagon rear end, flawlessly blended to a Bel Air by Bob Peterson from New Brighton in 1966. Currently enjoyed by owner Steve Kovacovich.

Check this ’39 Buick. Switches on the stalks are nothing new today—here’s a very early implementation of that idea: a toggle switch on the column shifter with a single red-lensed bulb. Flip the toggle up for a left turn, down for a right. The little red light flashes so you don’t go 100 miles with your blinker on.

There’s lots of beauty on the outsides of these cars–curves and chrome and fins and vents. But carefully peak in when you can because classic dashes can serve up as much art and innovation as any panel or bumper. Check the conical main gauge on this ’61 Chrysler 300 C. The rest of the gauges and switches, including the clear steering wheel, are just as alluring. Mmm hmm. This is why classics live on…

The fins on the 300 deserve a second look too. Think George Barris had one of these around the shop when he designed the Batmobile?

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 23rd, 2007 at 12:09 pm and is filed under Back to the 50s, Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.