I still haven't figured out what year, make and model of the car behind me in this picture, circa 1950 by the size of me and the diaper I'm wearing. Oh, and the screwdriver I'm digging into the yard is slotted. It would be a while before I graduated to phillips. I'm pretty sure the separate headlight bucket and straight-up radiator surround would suggest mid-30s, and I've looked several times at Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs, LaSalles, Caddies, Nashes and Studes. The thing not jibbing with all of them is the bumper. It has a profile and those previously mentioned don't have that 3-rib look.
I know, no PPE but I don't think goggles, earplugs and steel-toed boots were sized small enough for me at the time. I did see late-30s Chevies with the three-ribbed bumpers but the grill doesn't look like Chevy. I'm figuring it was my grandma's car. She and my granddad were living with us at the time (after a house fire left them with nothing). She was a Chevy person and had a '48 four door by the time I was old enough to remember.
This is a Nash Lafayette...I'm think close but no cigar...maybe a year off... The Grill bars look angled in your pic but that may be...just the fog of blur... I think you were screwing dirt...or stabbing worms...
I'm pretty convinced that the bumpers are most like a '38 Chevy, but like Stogy said, "Close but no cigar." Smooth bumpers rule out those other candidates. The headlight bucket and straight-on line of sight make it difficult to see enough of the grill to help much.
Looks a lot like a 1938 Dodge. But could also be a 1937 Desoto, and the ribbed bumpers would match then:
Closer, headlight strip, separate strip (turn signal?) bumper, but grille is vertical, not broad horizontal... 38 Buick EDIT beat during the cut and paste!
I agree 38... I think the fact the pic is a bit blurry and the Photographer was near laying on the ground may be distorting things...I think as you say if you look really close those bullet signals are on top of the fender and the thin trim strips are visible... Now can you imagine if it was a custom grille treatment...
Yeah, probably 37 now that I've seen both flatout posted. He's the man! It looked like a 36-39 to my eye, so I went with the middle and searched for "38 CARS" and that one jumped out as the best match. Did the first double picture and posted. By that time, the other pics were in the post. Went back and enlarged the pics so the details would show better.
Tough call my friends on 37 or 38...I'm not convinced it's 37... It's sporting some mighty big Wheelcovers...but Osage did say it was 1950ish...
We're lucky it's not a Twenties car...theres definitely less companies left in the 30s so easier to narrow down...no to Nash and Dodge...
Rod's 38 Buick is close but the headlight buckets are much longer than they are in the old b&w pic from 1950. The sun is shining from left to right, well illuminating the front of the vehicle. The ribbed bumper still matches best a Chevy. I'm thinking we've nailed the year at 37-38, but not quite yet figured the make. Strange how similar these late 30s cars are. fenders are fat and rounded, most still had headlight buckets and had not made the transition to headlights in the fenders like Ford and Willys.
I believe they are long buckets it's the angle of attack with the camera...they are disappearing behind the signals or parking lights... ...optically obscured, it's weird how the bars look angled by distortion... Nice crew cut Osage...about the same I had at that age...
I see what you mean about those disappearing headlight bucket tails. The more I look at these two, the more I'm convinced it is a 38 Buick. My aunt and uncle drove Buicks, so that probably makes sense, too. They lived a half-mile south and visited often. Thanks, H.A.M.B.ers! That sends me in the right direction and you are all quite observant.
Sorry for being indecisive...but one maybe two more tosses back to the 37 camp might be the bumperettes on the 38 seem taller, seem visibly inboard and there is possibly more distorting reflection perhaps with the finer grille...so Panther may be right that its a 37...they both had so many near identical details...tough call again...that all said getting it this close is admirable...Hambtastic!
I bet his Dad found that screwdriver the next time he mowed the lawn. 'Twang' and straight out from under the mower.
I’m late to the quiz but I immediately thought Buick and around ‘37-38. So I’m happy. I focused on the bumper, hub caps, and basic grille profile....
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