Vintage shots from days gone by!

And whenever I hear it I wonder why so many more 57 Chevies survived compared to Frods ?

 

Identical to my 57. Black and red, automatic, 2 barrel. I was stylin in 59.

 

THAT JACK WEBB PHOTO SAYS a lot…” “JUST THE FACTS, MA’AM…”

Hello,

This photo postcard is from Solvang, California. In those early So Cal travel trips with and without the family, Solvang was a stopover just because it is so quaint and directly on the highway leading north or south from our relatives in Santa Barbara. It was a different outlook on the standard tourist hot spot. But, it was a nice stop for a quick rest and some tasty food. Yes, it is a big “touristy” area and the weekends are packed with visitors. But, it still remains a destination place.

In the early photo-shoot vacation days, the back road from Santa Barbara, through the mountains and the lake gave a different look to the long driving vacation. Instead of a 4 lane freeway, it was a quiet, scenic, highway for pure driving enjoyment. Solvang and this approach from Santa Barbara was frequently used by the local hot rod individuals/groups, around the whole coastal area, for rod runs and car shows. Anderson’s Split Pea Soup Restaurant is on the major 101 freeway, a short distance West.

Jnaki

What is it that provides people with the satisfaction of going to Solvang? It looks like a Scandinavian village. There is a huge, red, wooden clog for photo ops, terrific restaurants, unusual pastries, and crazy things, like a balancing rock in the neighborhood city block, just around the corner from the posted city center photo. Of course, the scenery is certainly different than most towns and cities.


We frequented this village, as my wife’s parents purchased a home with acreage just a short drive south in Santa Ynez. Despite the Turkey and fixings, it took 6 minutes to get to the heart of Solvang for some tasty Danish pastries and stuff. One of the first discount, outlet stores was located here, well before the famed outlet malls began popping up all over the place. The whole, wide, valley area is dotted with horse ranches, acreages, and secluded ranch style homes.

The locale is just different, away from the hustle and bustle of a typical So Cal destination, despite the tourist scene. This whole area was a great, scenic hot rod/cruiser style route and countryside for the cool So Cal drives and destinations.

 

Either Sunday go to meeting,OR a Cuban themed dance party.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

That orange one is mine.

 

Is this a model A with a deuce grille shell? It looks real nice, the whole car.

Pat

 

Yes, it's a 30-31 A, so was the Don Green Coupe that ran Dover. It got a feature in the November 1962 issue of How to Hop Up Your Engine magazine.

Bob

 

Thanks Bob, it looks like my friends model A (1930) only with the 32 grille. My friends is a stocker only with the same wheels and tires. I kid him a lot because all his cars have WW's
on them and I hate WW's.

Pat

 

I agree on the WW tires, but the All White early tires look fine. Bob

 

Gosh I LOVE whitewalls,
Its keep 'en clean I hate..

 

As the story goes,,,, This a famous guy, who's name I can't remember right now, (dave morasco )
pulled this body, and put a '29 roadster PU body on it, so he could join L.A. Roadster Club.
( I think he kept these fenders and still has the roadster PU)

 

I like it... I like it, thinking they are gay is almost a Plus.....

 

Well damn, Bob, you are just too quick on the keyboard for me today!

Even though I have become much less judgemental in my old age this photo is just begging for a caption so here goes.

The guy on the wagon is thinking:
"Don't waste your time boys, they don't go that way"

 

After this photo the car went down hill and once sold for $600.00, body and chassis got separated. Owner builder tracked down all the bits and it made the lawn at Pebble Beach within the last ten years. Bob.

 

There is an article out there stating the 57 Chev was not supposed to be built. The 58 was well into the design and construction as Ford and Chrysler was coming out with completely new designs and GM was going too also. I do not remember what caused it, but the 57 was a "hurry-up".

I to like the 55-56 of all manufactures and see them as the best. The 56's Chevs and Fords are and always been my favorites. Neither recieved their bigger truck engines until 58 and ALL the manufactures had knowledge of what was happening.

If in IMO Chevrolet HAD come out in 57 with the 58 and 348" Fords 57 would have had the 332" or maybe the 352"; but we will never know.

 

Not that I have anything against the 58 Chevys but thankfully GM was not concerned with who got the first car out with dual headlights, that would have been a disaster on a 57.
And guys, PLEASE no photoshops' TRYING to prove me wrong, I've seen the custom crowds' various attempts over the years.
Doesn't help one bit!