Ford Sunliner

I think this is the '61 Galaxie Sunliner. A somewhat rare Ford--really nice lines, a departure from their late 50s models.

Another Auburn

What's going on? Have these cars suddenly become as common as a '65 Mustang? Maybe its the law of attraction, but this is the second time in a couple of weeks that I happened across a 1930's Auburn Boattail Speedster. This is a '35, and its not as immaculately restored as the black '36 I posted a little bit ago, but I almost prefer its "seasoned" look. Spotted this beauty on Main Street in Santa Monica over the weekend. I wasn't the only one who stopped to take pictures.




PS. My "Laker rants" will not be a regularly scheduled feature of this broadcast. Too much to complain about (pollution, SUVs, global warming, our corrupt and lazy news media, developers, traffic)- best to not even start down that path.

Screw Kobe

As my friends know, in the Shaq vs. Kobe debate, I was always a Shaq guy. I looked at it pragmatically: if you've got a guy like Shaq on your team, keep the big guy happy. Indulge his ego if necessary. Because you need him to win, and you can't find anyone to replace him. But what does Kobe do? Drops his name to the Colorado police, apropos of nothing, (a MAJOR violation of the manly code of honor, then puts the franchise in the position of having to choose between them--thus ensuring that the Lakers won't get full value for him. Now, after being The Man for two years and realizing that in fact, he needs (a) a dominating inside presence, (b) solid, veteran role players (Horry, D. Fish, Rick Fox,), (c) some athletic long-armed defenders, what does he do? Complain about being "trapped" on a team with no future. He's like a spoiled teenager who nags her parents into getting her her own apartment, and then cries because nobody's there to cook dinner. I say ignore him, keep him under contract, because there's no way to get real value for him, and hope that we make the lottery next year. Pathetic.

Memorial Day - Sweet 1950 Ranfla

Saw this beautiful 1950 lowrider Monday afternoon down in Playa Del Rey. The guy was out cruising with his wife, so I only had time to grab a couple quick snaps. Doesn't get much better than this, though.

cool chick in a custom '55

passing fancy

in praise of station wagons

As a kid growing up here in the 70s and 80s, I never would have imagined writing anything complimentary about the station wagon. But now, looking back to a time before suburban moms all started getting tit jobs and driving faux-military vehicles that they can't manage to park at Whole Foods--well, the old Country Squire starts to look refreshingly honest and practical, no? You're loading up kids, boogie boards, coolers, and dog for a trip to the beach. What would you rather drive? A Cadillac Escalade or this classic Ford? Yeah, me too.

scuffed, but beautiful

They aren't all mint-condition Auburns, but that's the real beauty of living here in LA. Its not just the car-show guys, the low-riders, the hot-rod guys that drive classic rides, but regular working-men, like the owner of this Mercury Montclair sedan. Looks like a '64 to me--notice the three-part rear window.
This baby belongs to the proprietor/chef of a little mexican place in North Hollywood, called Las Cazuelas, (just south of Burbank Bl. on Cahuenga, I think. Tremendous tacos al pastor.)

Lincoln Continental on the 405

Shot these out my window while charging north on the 405 near Wilshire Bl. offramp. This is pretty much my ideal ride here. Looks like a '61 or '62 to me--pretty much the same body type as mine, except that this dreamboat is a convertible, and in MUCH better condition than my own "Jackie Onassis".

An Auburn - Rare Ride

So I'm heading down Crenshaw Thursday afternoon, and at the car wash just north of the 10 freeway I see this beauty. 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster. Truly, a rare gem. Can't believe I neglected to get a full-on profile shot. The lines and details on this car are amazing. The owner (who also owns the car wash) told me that she runs great, too.

early 70s Mercedes

While not generally a fan of European cars, some exceptions come to mind. The Citroens that Alain Delon's character drove in Le Samourai, for example. And the famous Mercedes 300SL gull-wing coupe, (which gets a nice cameo in Louis Malle's brilliant noir "Ascenseur pour l'échafaud" or Elevator to the Gallows in its somewhat inaccurate English translation).

Another model that always catches my eye is the 280 series Mercedes-Benz from the late 60s and early 70s. The pagoda-roof 280SLs top the list, but this creamy little coupe looks lovely as well. I noticed the era-appropriate blue-yellow plate--wonder if she's still got her original owner?

on the fly

The trouble with this town, sometimes its impossible to stop and smell the roses.

Cadillac - Hancock Park

Saw this vanilla beauty out the corner of my eye the other day, right around the corner from those big classic apartment buildings on Rossmore in Hancock Park (the Ravenswood, the El Royale, the Mauretania). I can imagine a Kennedy-era swell pulling up in front of the El Royale in this Caddy, his sunglasses-wearing mistress by his side.


The owner wasn't around and I didn't want to go traipsing around on his driveway without permission, so I only shot this from the one side. Looks like a '60 or '61 Coupe de Ville to me. Love the small wings that jut out from the back bumpers.