Ask the Car People.SM


Were Old Cars more Fun Than Modern Ones?

198 messages,  Last post on Jan 30, 2012 at 2:43 PM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum.

What is this discussion about? Classic Cars, Coupe, Convertible, Truck, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 16 of 20

#149 of 198 Re: Jaguar [fintail] by isellhondas

Jan 24, 2012 (2:26 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 24, 2012 12:28 pm)
That is a very nice looking car! I know I've seen it on the streets.
 
Just don't ever lose one of those special hubcaps!

#150 of 198 Re: Jaguar [berri] by hpmctorque

Jan 24, 2012 (2:27 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jan 24, 2012 1:53 pm)
"... weren't the changes at Ford and Chrysler more styling rather than modernized engineering in 55 and 56?"
 
I believe the restyled '55 Ford was based on the '52 platform, although it had an all-new look. However, the '55 Plymouth had a new platform, and, for the first time offered a modern, new OHV V8. I think the difference between the '54 and '55 Plymouths was as dramatic as the difference between the '54 and '55 Chevys. The same was true for the other Chrysler Corp. brands.

#151 of 198 Re: Jaguar [berri] by isellhondas

Jan 24, 2012 (2:28 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jan 24, 2012 1:15 pm)
Very favorite? Actually I like them all. I do have a soft spot for the 52's since that was my first car. I have owned several 49's 50's and 54's.
 
I like the 54's too especially since they have the upgraded engines with full pressure lubrication.

#152 of 198 Re: Jaguar [hpmctorque] by berri

Jan 24, 2012 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Jan 24, 2012 2:27 pm)
However, the '55 Plymouth had a new platform
 
Oh yeah, that's right- they advertised it as something like the $500M look. I don't really know, but I heard one drawback to it was reduced legroom? I always liked the looks of the 55 DeSoto and Dodge.

#153 of 198 Re: Jaguar [isellhondas] by andre1969

Jan 24, 2012 (5:45 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Jan 24, 2012 2:28 pm)
Very favorite? Actually I like them all. I do have a soft spot for the 52's since that was my first car. I have owned several 49's 50's and 54's.
 
Someone in my family, or possibly an old tenant, once had a '53 Chevy. Here's an old pic of my house, taken in 1965, according to the date stamp on the back of the pic:

 
BTW, does anybody know when color film started becoming common? For some reason, this pic just feels older than 1965. I always wondered if it was just a real old pic, that didn't get developed until years later.

#154 of 198 Re: Jaguar [berri] by andre1969

Jan 24, 2012 (5:38 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jan 24, 2012 5:26 pm)
Oh yeah, that's right- they advertised it as something like the $500M look. I don't really know, but I heard one drawback to it was reduced legroom? I always liked the looks of the 55 DeSoto and Dodge.
 
Dunno about the reduced legroom, but none of those cars from that era were very generous with regards to legroom. I've sat in a '55-56 era DeSoto and Chrysler, and up front, they're really not all that roomy. The seat is high, but it's sort of like sitting in an old truck. You can't really stretch out.
 
I've heard that, for the most part, those cars were designed to be a perfect fit for a male driver around 5'10" or so. I remember one year at a car show, someone let me sit behind the wheel of his 1950 or so Olds 88, and that sucker was cramped for my 6'3" body! Headroom was good, but the steering wheel was way too close, and legroom was horrible. I would love to know how fat and/or tall people were able to drive those cars!
 
Also, I think it was the 1956 Chrysler that was advertised as "The car with the 100 million dollar look" Or something like that.

#155 of 198 Re: Jaguar [andre1969] by isellhondas

Jan 24, 2012 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 24, 2012 5:45 pm)
Yep, that's a 53 Chevy all right!
 
It's the stripper model, the 150.

#156 of 198 Re: Jaguar [isellhondas] by andre1969

Jan 24, 2012 (6:06 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Jan 24, 2012 5:41 pm)
Somewhere around here, or at my Grandmother's house, or my Mom's, there's a some really ancient pics of the house, with a '37 Plymouth parked in that spot! Wish I could find those!

#157 of 198 Re: Jaguar [andre1969] by berri

Jan 24, 2012 (6:32 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 24, 2012 5:45 pm)
BTW, does anybody know when color film started becoming common? For some reason, this pic just feels older than 1965. I always wondered if it was just a real old pic, that didn't get developed until years later
 
I remember as a kid that color film and its processing were both kind of expensive, even in the mid sixties (like 3 or 4 X more expensive than b&w) - just like color tv I guess. Yearbooks and the like were all mostly b&w back then. I'm thinking color photos got relatively cheaper somewhere in the 70's. In fact, b&w tv's were fairly common around homes until the 70's as well. So I think a 65 b&w picture is quite likely to be real. By the way, that house kind of looks like it could be a vacation home in some resort area. Maybe its the front porches.

#158 of 198 Re: Jaguar [andre1969] by fintail

Jan 24, 2012 (6:45 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 24, 2012 5:45 pm)
Didn't your grandparents usually have more modern cars? I remember you mentioning their old Fords and Chevys. Or is that from the other side of the family? That car does look kind of aged in the pic.

Messages Page 16 of 20

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement