Features The Clif Inman Chrysler in… HAWAII?

Taken with a 35mm Pentax Camera with an 85mm 1.8 lens on the dashboard of the 1962 Rambler sedan, moving at 50 mph.



Hello,
When my wife and I stayed with our friends in Hanalei Bay, we took many drives to the South Shore for some surf explorations. It was different than the North Shore in wave and the overall environment. One could tell as the road all along the island perimeter gave way from green, wet areas in the North to the drier areas in the East and South. When we got to the South Shore area it had a smattering of green. Yes, it still is green and forests were still tall and green.

But, overall the North Shore area is a lot wetter and greener. It also seemed like the North Shore area was much lower key in just about everything.

The only cool 55 Chevy we saw on the main highway from the North Shore along the East coastline to the main city of Kauai, in the Southwest area.

Jnaki

Our trips we took in the 62 Rambler Sedan to get to the South Shore coastline took us through this "tall tree lined tunnel" for a long distance. It was driving through a jungle forest, just like in the movies... ha!

The surf gets good in the summer swells. We had overhead waves at this place called "Longboat." The paddle out was a good 1/4 mile out and luckily the water was deep, closer to shore, so it kept the rolling waves at a distance. The break hit a reef and broke quite well. But, after a long ride towards shore, the deep water helped kick out and paddle back outside easily. But, we still got "whomped" on some of the faster and larger waves.

My wife took this photo of me, going left on some rare peaks. The red trunks were a good indicator of who was on the wave, with binoculars. YRMV

 

I am beginning to think @jnaki has been everywhere and has pics to prove it.

 

I did a simple google search and found an address on the island that Mr. McEuen lived at. That’s where I’d go knock on the door, if I was trying to find the car.

(Cob erased my post with a link for privacy reasons. I understand.)

 

Pretty sure @Ryan's already seen all of them (but just not that high rez) as I've been posting these images (& dozens more) all over the Internet for over two decades . . . including:

• on the H.A.M.B. in multiple threads and in my The Inman '57 Chrysler Custom album
• on the FowardLook.net site
• on Rik @Rikster Hoving's sites
• on Sondre @SuperFleye & Olaf @Kvipt's Kustomrama site
• on Facebook

 

Do they drive on the left there, or is the image reversed?

 

Hello,

I took the shot while our friend was driving. As far as the camera was pointed forward, the car in front was far enough away that it looks like it is coming toward you. But, in reality, the farther away an image is, even with high quality lenses from the top camera lens company will still make things blurry. Remember, a 35 mm film transparency is about the size of a rectangular Forever Postage Stamp. And, the larger you make that tiny stamp, the blurrier it gets.

On the other hand, if I had a 2.25 x 2.25 Hassleblad Camera and a 300 mm thousand dollar+ lens, the image would show the taillights and be able to read the license plate. But, that camera + lens was more than our old house in Long Beach. Ha!

Jnaki

Two things are always prevalent in motion and photography. Holding one's breath with every shot is mandatory to lessen any movement. So, there is that. But, shooting from inside of a car, absorbs any road bump, lane crossing swaying and/or swerving for road objects. Now, care has to be taken to hold extra still or a little two year old kid from the back seat surprising everyone with ... "I saw a horse in the forest..." yell!!! creates all kinds of new surprises.

So, point, infinity focus and shoot is usually the case using high speed film. But, the majority of color slide film we were using was Ektachrome and it was not boosted for higher speed action. It was a beautiful countryside road trip going slower speeds with a full car + surfboards on top. In Kauai, time seemed a lot slower than even in coastal So Cal.

These days, digital photography can sometimes clear up the confusion from old eyes that see any color photo for clarity... and mistakes in identifying a photographic clues. YRMV

 

Ah yes the beater 'fishing car' kept at the cottage, with just a wee bit more class!

 

I have this original photo in my collection.

 

I say, who doesn’t love a big Chrysler!

 

Hello,

Since 1946 on a multiple day open road trip from the Oregon border area to the trailer court in Long Beach near the PCH and the L.A. River was the start of long drives for me. I do not remember much when asked by my mom, but there was one incident about me being the only two year old kid left in the Buick fastback sedan during a rest stop/gas fill up. There was a hamburger left on the front seat and I was in the back.

Somehow, I climbed over the seat and had a nice meal while everyone was inside the store. My mom laughed at that scene she remembered and the look everyone had when they all got back in the car. It was to be a snack for my dad while he was driving down highway 395 toward Los Angeles and our final destination, a small trailer.

From that point on, our dad was responsible for getting us up and down the California coastline multiple times on various summer vacations. So, he started us in our enjoyment of long roadtrips and visiting different areas. By the time we started driving, the pattern and enjoyment of road trips was ingrained in both of us.

Jnaki

We took thousands of miles all along the So Cal coastlines and 100+ miles into Baja, Mexico. That started us on visiting foreign countries and continued into our 20s. by the time we were married, there were several locations that were mandatory for visits as they were on our list of possible permanent locations for jobs and low key life.

One was the Caribbean and its pristine blue waters and vast coastline properties. The other was Europe and new territories that we only read about in our history books. But, as a teenager, my first wish was a surf tour along the east coast and the vast coastlines in Europe. That vision got put down fast from my parents with a chuckle… “and who is paying for the whole summer road trip?” Ha!!!

As a married couple we tried our best to go where we thought was going to be our permanent home. coastal locations, taking the top choices, Portugal, Spain, Greece, etc.

What about the USA? Well, it was road trip possible, so, those were to be seen as we decided to visit them. But, at the time, nowhere other than the Westcoast of the USA appealed to us as 20 somethings. The continent of North America was close enough to enjoy Mexico coastal living in many trips we took to the mainland destinations. Baja, yes, but we had already done that, so the mainland was the logical destinations until they were no longer appealing due to specific factors.
"The road less traveled..."
Then the Hawaii vacation for a month popped up with glee and the final destination was utilized to its fullest with the experience gathered there. Not a week long vacation, but to get immersed in the local scene and road trips all over the place for the whole summer. The other islands can come when we decide to go, if ever.

My wife and I traveled together since 1966 and most road trips were in the 65 El Camino for at least 100k miles. I put on 20k before we met. So, that was our adult life starting point and the “hits just kept on coming…” to our enjoyment of being together and experiencing different ways of life.
Vnak photo
But, we have been in So Cal since 1946 for me and 1950 for my wife’s starting point. OKC was nice for her, but So Cal was never second choice. The road calls us, and when we are ready to hit the road again, who knows where we will end up? Perhaps one last road trip back to OKC to finally find her old house and yard. The last time we missed out in our visit, but this time, we found directions to several locations in the city. YRMV

 

Hey @Ryan
Just a thought to share with you.



This Kauai, well known real estate agency, may very well have some information as to where the residence of the owner, of that kick ass MOPAR actually lives.

It's a small island, communication is key and knowledge is power!

Get "crackin" and get "trackin" !

The H.A.M.B. Universe is waiting for your results, in the form of cool, well thought out photographs, of that incredible car.

Your results may vary!
Thanks from Dennis.

 

It would be funny if the owner was just out making a grocery store run.

 

Paging all HAMB detectives to the front desk. All HAMB detectives to the front desk.

 

What color was it when you saw it Ryan?

 

Joe Wilhelm’s finest creation IMHO. I’ve lusted after that car since the first time I saw it in print many moons ago. You’re on the scent Ryan, good luck!

 

If that truck ends up being posted here under a title like How Do I Save The Patina, we all know who's fault it is...
I hope the PI work in the background bears fruit. Best of luck in the tracking!

 

The car is probably on the island of Ni'ihau by now, and you can't go there! You blew your chance, Ryan. Go and sit in the corner for awhile and think about what you've done ...

 

Give it some time. The jungle drums are slower than todays phones. Somebody will tell somebody who knows somebody. The man that owns the car may be ok with getting some pictures taken. He is driving it on public roads so he isn't trying to be secret about it.

 

I get that the caretaker would, in a world without stalkers and other ne'er do wells be able to share this car without concern, but we don't live there.
It's also as you said one of the most significant customs which has been out of sight for decades.

I was once asked by a collector which item in his collection I'd like to take home. He asked this of all in the group that day. I was surrounded by some amazing, significant automobiles and memorabilia. I told him that I would take a display engine, because it was beautiful and that my circumstances would allow me to care for it better than any of the cars. I wouldn't be able to take the cars around and share them with others or store them in a dust-free climate controlled place.
Let's be glad that the current caretaker has not let it fall into disrepair or worse, even if they aren't toting it around the world for display.

 

I don’t remember that car. I love the lines. Hopefully the owner agrees to a photo shoot