[solvegas]

A 1953 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door sedan. Why this car? Well, when I was young, my father owned an all-brown color one of this model before he traded it in for a new 1964 Chevrolet Malibu when I was seven years old. When I was very young, I remember thinking it was so gigantic, especially when I crawled inside of it. But the thing about the car I still remember best was its distinctive hood ornament which was a fast clipper sailing ship. Also, I remember how you could climb on top of these cars, and you wouldn't dent the panels by standing on them unlike todays cars. It was a tank. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

A 1953 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door sedan. Why this car? Well, when I was young, my father owned an all-brown color one of this model before he traded it in for a new 1964 Chevrolet Malibu when I was seven years old. When I was very young, I remember thinking it was so gigantic, especially when I crawled inside of it. But the thing about the car I still remember best was its distinctive hood ornament which was a fast clipper sailing ship. Also, I remember how you could climb on top of these cars, and you wouldn't dent the panels by standing on them unlike todays cars. It was a tank. 

Nice.  I have a similar memory of riding in my sister’s early 50’s DeSoto, which she had bought from a friend for $50.  That was probably around 1970.    I remember how different it seemed from the cars that were currently made, then.  It felt like a tank, especially when you consider that I was used to riding in my mom’s Falcon. 

[MaxBigfoot]

I found another neat bubble top car.  This one is a custom job, with the original base car being a '59 El Camino.   

[solvegas]

This one brings lots of memories back. When my Dad traded his 53 Plymouth back in 1964, this is the car he got, a 1964 Chevy Chevelle Malibu and it was creme colored. It had a three on the tree manual transmission, no air conditioning, front window side vents, and in summer a typical feature which sucked, vinyl seats. It had a 250 cubic inch inline six engine which was downright indestructible and what was considered a sporty feature, red stripe sidewall tires. We did plenty of long trips on that car visiting family in Mexico and Texas. I was living in Mexico City then. It was later traded in for a 1968 Dodge Coronet Station Wagon with the fake wood side panel sticker. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

Okay, I’m not going to follow suit with a picture of the car my mom got—a second gen Ford Falcon (her first new car after getting divorced), but here’s something vaguely similar: a mildly customized 1960 first gen Ford Falcon Ranchero that’s pretty neat.

To me, the black bumperettes should’ve been done in chrome to match the front.  And are those ‘59 Caddy taillights I see poking out of the center of the Ford’s? 

Not sure if this a reversed image or if, perhaps, it’s an Australian car (where they still make Falcons, today, I believe).

[MaxBigfoot]

Okay, I’m not going to follow suit with a picture of the car my mom got—a second gen Ford Falcon (her first new car after getting divorced), but here’s something vaguely similar: a mildly customized 1960 first gen Ford Falcon Ranchero that’s pretty neat.

To me, the black bumperettes should’ve been done in chrome to match the front.  And are those ‘59 Caddy taillights I see poking out of the center of the Ford’s? 

Not sure if this a reversed image or if, perhaps, it’s an Australian car (where they still make Falcons, today, I believe).

That's a sweet looking ride, Shadowmuse.  I don't think I've ever seen one with my own eyes before.   

[solvegas]

Okay, I’m not going to follow suit with a picture of the car my mom got—a second gen Ford Falcon (her first new car after getting divorced), but here’s something vaguely similar: a mildly customized 1960 first gen Ford Falcon Ranchero that’s pretty neat.

To me, the black bumperettes should’ve been done in chrome to match the front.  And are those ‘59 Caddy taillights I see poking out of the center of the Ford’s? 

Not sure if this a reversed image or if, perhaps, it’s an Australian car (where they still make Falcons, today, I believe).

Those are not Cadillac taillights. 

[solvegas]

This is amazing to me! This 1968 Dodge Coronet is exactly the same color and trim as the one my Dad bought. I'll always remember what he said later on when he stated, " I can't believe I paid $50,000 Pesos for a new car!". The exchange rate was 12.5 Pesos to the Dollar then which would make it $4,000 US Dollars. It had air conditioning , which was the first car that had it when Dad bought it. I'll always remember how much fun the rear facing third seat was since you could do things like make funny faces to the cars behind you and Dad and Mom wouldn't know.  Taking trips on it was much nicer than the Chevy Malibu since there was more room and we would put the suitcases and stuff on the roof rack. it was nice to go see my maternal grandparent at their house in Guadalajara or my paternal grandparents in Orizaba. Then we moved to the United States in 1971 where it was traded for a 1971 Chevy Monte Carlo in California. The Dodge Coronet was a lemon. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

Okay, I’m not going to follow suit with a picture of the car my mom got—a second gen Ford Falcon (her first new car after getting divorced), but here’s something vaguely similar: a mildly customized 1960 first gen Ford Falcon Ranchero that’s pretty neat.

To me, the black bumperettes should’ve been done in chrome to match the front.  And are those ‘59 Caddy taillights I see poking out of the center of the Ford’s? 

Not sure if this a reversed image or if, perhaps, it’s an Australian car (where they still make Falcons, today, I believe).

Those are not Cadillac taillights. 

What do you think they are then?  They sure look like they could be those 59 taillights, to me

[solvegas]

This is a 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo which was Motor Trend car of the year. This is the same color and black vinyl top which my father traded the 1968 Dodge Coronet when we moved to the United States and he bought in Glendale, California. the interior was black cloth and he bought for my Mother. He also bought a white Chevy Vega for himself as a commuter car. The Monte Carlo had a 350 cubic inch small block engine with 300 horsepower. It had a clock in it, air conditioner and all the fancy stuff for the time. But then my mom divorced Dad in 1972. At the time I had no real idea why. Years later I found out since she was an American living in Mexico when she married my Mexican Dad in Texas when he attended Texas A&M back in 1948, if she had divorced him in Mexico, she would have lost everything since she was a gringa. Moving to the States allowed her to divorce him since he was the foreigner and she kept the Monte Carlo while dad moved away in the Vega. We then moved to Houston in Summer of 1972 where there was some family of mom.  This Monte Carlo was such a beautiful car with some of the best styling ever and after I joined the Navy in 1975, I was stationed in Hawaii in 1983 when she traded in for a 1984 Chevy Celebr1ty in November. Talk about a downplay. I would have bought it from her, but the deal was done while I was deployed at sea. I would still have it if I'd been able to get it.

[Shadowmuse Blown]

Here’s one to make you laugh.  Not sure of this donor Caddy’s year. Mid-80s, maybe?  Poor thing.

[solvegas]

Here’s one to make you laugh.  Not sure of this donor Caddy’s year. Mid-80s, maybe?  Poor thing.

Yea, that hybrid Cadillac uses its foundation as a 1983-1987 Cadillac Seville. 

[solvegas]

After my parents divorced in 1972, this is the car my father left the house with, a 1971 Chevrolet Vega, which along with the Ford Pinto, started the reputational destruction of the American automobile industry. I remember as he left the house, he was crying and I never, ever, saw him do that in my life. After all, in those days, men don't cry. Anyways, that car doesn't give me fond memories. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

After my parents divorced in 1972, this is the car my father left the house with, a 1971 Chevrolet Vega, which along with the Ford Pinto, started the reputational destruction of the American automobile industry. I remember as he left the house, he was crying and I never, ever, saw him do that in my life. After all, in those days, men don't cry. Anyways, that car doesn't give me fond memories. 

I think you should start a thread of “cars I’ve known”, instead of “cars I’d like to know” LOL

[Shadowmuse Blown]

1954 Plymouth Explorer concept. 

I’m struck by how forward-thinking the slim bumpers are.  Detroit wouldn’t employ slim bumpers in production for something like 15 years.  Of course, 5 mph bumpers destroyed that design trend.