The old photo shown, was taken in the City of Lakewood, in So Cal. (Around 1959-60) Next to Bixby Knolls and the Long Beach Airport. Hello, The 1934 Ford 5 window in the photo was taken in the one of the first full tract housing plots that started the whole development for the future communities. At the time in 1954, was the largest-ever private land development in the United States. Complete with homes arranged in neat little rows, all similar in construction, a business center, a very large outdoor shopping center and large golf course, with lakes and parks. In the 1960s, Lakewood was part of our cruising area since it bordered on the Long Beach city limits, the airport and community college campus. As we left Bixby Knolls and went to the local drive-in restaurants and movie theaters, we were now in Lakewood, just a short hop East. The famed “Cherry Avenue Drags” location was on the city limits of Lakewood and Long Beach (Bixby Knolls area specific) We had friends moving to Lakewood in the first couple of years of development. Then as our teen years were moving on, some moved to that area because the homes were newer and access to community structures were evident. The outdoor shopping center was considered one of the largest “malls” in So Cal and in the nation. The Silver Ford Coupe was/is the early version of the Mooneyham/Sharp Coupe. The Lakewood City racer reigned supreme in all timed runs and eliminations. Here is a complete version of the silver Mooneyham/Sharp Ford Coupe at Bakersfield in 1960: Some of the only action movies of the historic drag race build and runs... The first photo was taken in Lakewood, CA. Then I was able to film the silver coupe racing in one of the elimination races at the Bakersfield Smokers March Meet in 1960. They made the cover of the April 1960 Drag News. That in itself is a great accomplishment. Many different versions were popular throughout the following years and most people know of it as the blue Ford, 5 window 554 Coupe. Yet, it had its record breaking runs without the 554 number a year or two earlier. Jnaki Thanks to Dean Lowe for creating an outstanding drawing of the later 1963 version of the 554 Mooneyham/Sharp Coupe. timeless It is one of the best on the HAMB threads. The drawing should definitely be on the Friday Art Thread for the best artwork. IMHO It definitely tripped my trigger back then in the 1959-60 era and now. No, that is not my Flathead, 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery in the background. When we visited a friend that lived around the corner in the new master planned community, Lakewood, in So Cal , we saw the coupe and were in my 1958 Black Impala at the time. It was a surprise to drive around the corner and see the Ford coupe sitting in the driveway and on another time, in the garage. Lakewood was one of the first “planned” communities in So Cal. It was the start of the abundance of “Tract Home” building throughout all of California and the rest of the USA. Jnaki My brother and I saw the Mooneyham Sharp Coupe at the 2nd Bakersfield Smokers March Meet. 64 years ago as memory and films depict.
I think your source mislead you.....Looks like it was TAKEN from the East end of the bridge.... those are the West Hills in the background.
The Jalopy Journal
