[solvegas]

Another car/truck I wish they still produce now even though it was discontinued in 1987.  I always liked its look because it had the utility of a truck and the look of a sedan. This 1969 model is the SS variant with a big block Chevy engine at 396 cubic inches and 400 horsepower. The GMC version was called the Caballero. It was the true cowboy sedan.  Ford had the Ranchero as a competitor.

[Shadowmuse Blown]

I just want to know what marketing genius named that division.  I’m gonna guess it was Chrysler, himself.  “DeSoto” has a great ring to it.  Almost as good as “Edsel”. 

Just as Cadillac was named after a French explorer of what is now Michigan, DeSoto was named after an explorer of the Mississippi. In those days, such men were admired for their courage to go what was then an unknown world. Today, they are seen as evil so it can be hard to understand name of automobiles nowadays. Lincoln was named after what many consider the greatest President of the USA but now some consider just another evil white man. 

Huh?  I am aware of who it was named after.  My question is: WHY would you name a car “DeSoto”?  It’s not a pretty name.  Using the name of an explorer isn’t much help when it doesn’t have a nice ring to it. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

The 1952 Chrysler D’Elegance Ghia.  Foreshadowing many design cues which would make their way into Mopars in the coming years.

[solvegas]

The 1952 Chrysler D’Elegance Ghia.  Foreshadowing many design cues which would make their way into Mopars in the coming years.

That car is 70+ years old, yet it remains a gorgeous timeless piece of automotive style. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

The 1952 Chrysler D’Elegance Ghia.  Foreshadowing many design cues which would make their way into Mopars in the coming years.

That car is 70+ years old, yet it remains a gorgeous timeless piece of automotive style. 

Yeah, enough so that it heavily influenced the current Chrysler 300

[solvegas]

Do you guys remember that old cop show Starsky and Hutch? I certainly enjoyed it then and one of the stars of the show was the 1972 Gran Torino by Ford. I'm a Chevy man but this was one good looking Ford. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

Do you guys remember that old cop show Starsky and Hutch? I certainly enjoyed it then and one of the stars of the show was the 1972 Gran Torino by Ford. I'm a Chevy man but this was one good looking Ford. 

You’re right this is a cool Gran Torino.  Too cool for S&H.  I don’t remember them driving this.  Google says it was an ugly 1976 model with those ungodly bumpers.

[MaxBigfoot]

Do you guys remember that old cop show Starsky and Hutch? I certainly enjoyed it then and one of the stars of the show was the 1972 Gran Torino by Ford. I'm a Chevy man but this was one good looking Ford. 

You’re right this is a cool Gran Torino.  Too cool for S&H.  I don’t remember them driving this.  Google says it was an ugly 1976 model with those ungodly bumpers.

My Google says 1975, but yeah, not as cool as the '72 sol posted. 

[solvegas]

Do you guys remember that old cop show Starsky and Hutch? I certainly enjoyed it then and one of the stars of the show was the 1972 Gran Torino by Ford. I'm a Chevy man but this was one good looking Ford. 

You’re right this is a cool Gran Torino.  Too cool for S&H.  I don’t remember them driving this.  Google says it was an ugly 1976 model with those ungodly bumpers.

My Google says 1975, but yeah, not as cool as the '72 sol posted. 

You guys are right but it was still a star in the show. I do suffer from Old Timers disease every so often. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

More ‘59s.  This time a garish Buick Electra and awesome Imperial LeBaron.  Yeah, I’m biased.  I owned a 1959 Imperial LeBaron Southhampton four door hardtop when I was in college and had it for years.  The ‘60 Buick was so sharp, so much better that this harmonica grilled one a year earlier, while the Imperial is a wonderful example of Exner’s late 50s designs.  A shot from the front straight-on doesn’t do it justice. I’ll post some better pix of Imperials some other day.

[MaxBigfoot]

More ‘59s.  This time a garish Buick Electra and awesome Imperial LeBaron.  Yeah, I’m biased.  I owned a 1959 Imperial LeBaron Southhampton four door hardtop when I was in college and had it for years.  The ‘60 Buick was so sharp, so much better that this harmonica grilled one a year earlier, while the Imperial is a wonderful example of Exner’s late 50s designs.  A shot from the front straight-on doesn’t do it justice. I’ll post some better pix of Imperials some other day.

The Buick looks like you wouldn't want to see it in the rear view, with the evil glare it's got!   

[solvegas]

More ‘59s.  This time a garish Buick Electra and awesome Imperial LeBaron.  Yeah, I’m biased.  I owned a 1959 Imperial LeBaron Southhampton four door hardtop when I was in college and had it for years.  The ‘60 Buick was so sharp, so much better that this harmonica grilled one a year earlier, while the Imperial is a wonderful example of Exner’s late 50s designs.  A shot from the front straight-on doesn’t do it justice. I’ll post some better pix of Imperials some other day.

The Buick looks like you wouldn't want to see it in the rear view, with the evil glare it's got!   

One thing I really like about those vehicles from the 50's is the fact that each had a distinctive character. Most of today's vehicles are so generic and bland and I find most to be more like appliances. 

[solvegas]

One of the cars I fantasized of owning when I was a k1d was this second generation 1970 Chevy Camaro SS with a big block 396 cubic inch engine. It was a big styling change from the first generation 1966-1969 model. Chevrolet overall did a major styling change for all their models of the model year 1969 to 1970 with the exception of the Corvette.

[Shadowmuse Blown]

One of the cars I fantasized of owning when I was a k1d was this second generation 1970 Chevy Camaro SS with a big block 396 cubic inch engine. It was a big styling change from the first generation 1966-1969 model. Chevrolet overall did a major styling change for all their models of the model year 1969 to 1970 with the exception of the Corvette.

Poor Camaro.  It was left with this body for a loooong time (as was the Corvette). I remember when the new Camaro came out in 1982 it was like: they still make Camaros?  But, it was a nice redo and the COMMERCIAL was a breath of fresh air done in the super saturated colors of music vids at the time.

[MaxBigfoot]

One of the cars I fantasized of owning when I was a k1d was this second generation 1970 Chevy Camaro SS with a big block 396 cubic inch engine. It was a big styling change from the first generation 1966-1969 model. Chevrolet overall did a major styling change for all their models of the model year 1969 to 1970 with the exception of the Corvette.

Sweet looking ride!