CLASSIC CARS OF LOS ANGELES

Que Viva Venice

2008-10-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

Where classic cars are both art and basic transportation.

Eleven Ways of Looking at a Chevy

2008-09-30T10:56:00.001-07:00

All over town, in all manner of variation, one comes across these beautiful Chevy Bel-Airs from the mid-fifties. Never seems to get old.

On the Move

2008-09-29T15:12:00.001-07:00

Beach Cruisers

2008-09-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

Every day at San Onofre is practically a car show, so its almost not fair to post these...but in the spirit of not taking things for granted, some timeless California style.

'58 Impala - Rare Beauty For Sale

2008-09-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

Surprised to see a beautiful ride like this sitting on the street "for sale". I believe the owner's asking a pretty hefty price, but you don't see this year Impala very often, and she's in great condition. If I had the extra dough, I'd definitely be interested.

Chevy Wagon - good eye, Kestrel!

2008-06-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Props to my niece Kestrel for spotting this cool 2-door Chevy wagon parked near my house in Venice. My guess is that its a 1955 Handyman model wagon. (Corrections appreciated, as usual.) In any case, cool surfer ride. Bonus points for the black plate.

64 Ferrari

2008-06-23T15:28:00.001-07:00

Classy sports car. Also, kind of nice to see a Ferrari that isn't red.

39 Chevy

2008-06-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

Gangster.

Sweet Ranfla - courtesy of La India

2008-06-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

my beautiful wife's contribution to the cause - she caught this sweet ranfla stuck in traffic on Lincoln.
Mid-fifties Pontiac, sporting the Devils car club placa.
bien hecho, mi linda!

Save Cadillac Corner! - courtesy LA Times

2008-06-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

Code woes of Hollywood's Cadillac Corner
It may be the end of the road for the landmark that has run afoul of the city.
By Bob Pool
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

June 4, 2008

It may be fin for Hollywood's house of fins.

After 21 years of waxing chrome bumpers and wreathed crests and washing white sidewalls and wrap-around windshields at 7614 Sunset Blvd., Frank Corrente might have to haul his fleet of vintage V-8s out of town.

Los Angeles building inspectors say Corrente opened his Cadillac Corner car lot in 1987 without the proper permits. They have ordered him to file the paperwork and bring the lot up to current standards or else padlock its gate permanently.

That means replacing his sales office, reducing his 45-car inventory, and removing the fluttering flags and circus-style tent that sometimes shades shark-finned classics such as the '59 El Dorado convertible and the boat-sized '60 Coupe de Ville hardtop.

Corrente says that after more than two decades of taking his car lot taxes and business license fees, authorities ought to cut him some slack.

He said he cannot afford to lose the vintage car display space that the ordered modifications would require and he cannot afford to pay for a new office structure.

"Running people out of business doesn't help L.A.," he said.

Building and Safety officials have summoned Corrente to a Thursday hearing to determine if a criminal complaint will be filed against him.

The department's Code Enforcement Bureau violation notice cited issues with the car lot itself, its sales office and the 60-foot-long tent. It threatened him with a $200 fine for each vintage Cadillac sold from the unapproved lot.

Back in Time for Summer

2008-05-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Ever think that $3.35 gas would bring warm feelings of nostalgia? Classic cars should pay half price.

Project Car

2007-11-19T22:45:00.000-08:00

I'm guessing that one of the local car club boys will eventually turn this cancer patient into a mean-looking rat rod. Maybe the process is already under way.

Volvo - mid-fifties

2007-11-19T15:23:00.000-08:00

Not necessarily the best shots of this Volvo (blame my beautiful wife, La India), but it definitely caught my eye as we crawled by it in brutal Lincoln Bl. traffic. Keep that big beauty rolling, dude...

'63 Mercury Comet - FOR SALE!

2007-11-16T18:22:00.000-08:00

Come on, trade in that corporate-guy Lexus or that fat-momma Yukon and make a more stylish entrance.

Venice Hearse

2007-11-14T18:26:00.001-08:00

Go out in style.

Get Off the Phone and Drive

2007-11-14T18:16:00.000-08:00

Classy-looking 280SE. Looks like early 70s, no? Pity the driver appears to be such a tool.

'60 Ford Falcon - station wagon

2007-11-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

Chevy Delray - summer flashback

2007-11-08T15:50:00.001-08:00

Venice. The cool weather feels good, its been a while. But there's always something about summer and classic Chevys. This looks like a '58 Delray to me. Slightly lowered, perhaps, but otherwise pretty much perfect.

Muscle Buick - for Judy Campbell

2007-11-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

I'm a romantic by nature, don't care much for irony. Either I really like something or I don't. And to be honest, this style of car doesn't do much for me. So, rather than making some kind of wink-wink comment about loving muscle cars, ZZ Top, and Pabst Blue Ribbon, I'll just post this '65 Buick for my friend Judy Campbell, proud daughter of the midwest.

citroen in marrakech

2007-11-06T22:46:00.001-08:00

Back in the Southland, and happy to be here. Took a brief jaunt to Madrid and Morocco this fall. Missed the wildfires, missed several good swells, but returned with some great memories from our travels.

Caught this sweet, funky Citroen on the street, with no one around to provide any details. Looks like a 60s model wagon, but apart from what I saw in Le Samourai (one of my favorite movies), I don't have much knowledge of these cars.

Classic Face, Classic Car

2007-09-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

This gentleman told us a long story about this car, and I may now have some of the details wrong, but I think he said its a 1939 Oldsmobile 88, that his grandfather bought in Rapid City, South Dakota.

1932 Hot Rod

2007-07-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

According to its owner, whom I met while tooling around on my bike in the neighborhood, this car has a bit of a pedigree. Built by Andy (the Rodfather) Brizio himself, this car reportedly won top honors at the 1970 Oakland hot rod show.

A Thing

2007-07-05T17:17:00.001-07:00

What an SUV Should Be

2007-07-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

No shiny black paint. No fancy entertainment system. Not top-heavy. Plenty of clearance underneath. No holders for the sippy-cup.

Customized Olds 88

2007-07-02T17:42:00.001-07:00

As you can see, this customized Dynamic 88 is for sale. Parked on the street in Toluca Lake one Sunday. I can't remember what year it is--1960, I think. I hate the paint job, but other than that major detail, this is a really great ride.

1950 MG - Happy Fathers' Day!

2007-06-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

This post is a little late, but props to all the poppas out there, especially my own. My Dad's been doing his part to bring style to South Bay streets for a lotta years now. This is his MG-TD, recently restored (down to the license plate) and rocking that classic British Racing Green. Respect.

190SL on Lincoln

2007-06-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

Saw this sweet hardtop convertible Mercedes (late 50s) on Lincoln the other day. Got a couple quick pictures, and then once we got on the 405 south, right around LAX we see another white classic Mercedes--this one neither sporty nor convertible, but looking like the 190SLs overweight auntie. Still kind of hot, though.

Pink Cadillac - Glendale

2007-06-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

The perfect example of a serendipitous encounter. I'm in Glendale, trying to find a hardware store, and making wrong turns because that town isn't a place I frequent (thanks be to jasus). I pull into a dead-end street in order to reverse direction, and what do I see but this sweet pink 1958 Cadillac. It is a '58, isn't it?

In a Manner of Speaking

2007-06-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Looked at in an extremely forgiving light, the Ford Pinto qualifies as a classic, wouldn't you say? You rarely see them anymore, in large part because of their notoriously poor design. But I can very clearly recall riding around in a 70s Pinto--white, just like this one, with black seats that would get blisteringly hot to my bare legs. Owned by family friends, (folks who for MANY years resisted buying "foreign cars"), this car felt cramped, gutless, and unfashionable even to my 8-year-old self. Why, then, did the sight of it in Venice the other day give me a feeling of nostalgic pleasure?

Fleeting Glimpses

2007-06-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

Low-rider truck on freeway

beauty amongst skanky hollywood traffic

passing caddy convertible - santa monica

vintage jaguar - burbank

Just missed this one - Venice

'54 Chevy Bel Air

2007-06-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

Ford Fairlane

2007-06-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

Mystery Dodge

2007-06-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

Doesn't look like this old baby's moved in a while. Something about this car reminds me of the ones you see in Havana. I'm guessing its an early-50s model, just based on its shape and size. (Hell, maybe even late 40s). A guy doing maintenance on the building it was parked at said it moves from one side of the street to the other, (so you know it starts) but never really gets out on the road. Wonder whats the story?

Mercury Monterey

2007-06-05T13:33:00.001-07:00

I think this is a '57 Monterey coupe, but it could be a little later vintage. The lines aren't necessarily the most sleek, but this car has a great funky-cool vibe about it.

PARA MI, LA MAS BELLA

2007-06-03T20:33:00.001-07:00

'66 T-Bird For Sale

2007-06-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't describe this model as the best year for the popular Ford Thunderbird, but a supermodel with bad teeth is still hotter than most, que no? Spotted this baby on the street in Burbank--don't know how well it runs, or how much its selling for, but the body looks pretty straight, and the interior looks good too. With a little TLC, this ride could be firme. Even as is, this'll turn more heads than that Toyota Camry you're driving!

TRUCKS

2007-06-01T19:28:00.001-07:00

Ford Sunliner

2007-05-31T15:58:00.000-07:00

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

Another Auburn

2007-05-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

passing fancy

2007-05-24T23:32:00.000-07:00

in praise of station wagons

2007-05-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-20T14:50:00.001-07:00

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

2007-05-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

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

Cadillac - Hancock Park

2007-05-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

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.

'54 Chevy

2007-05-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

Impeccable Chevy Bel-Air, captured on the street in Venice. I spoke briefly with the owner, a laid-back veterano wearing a Dodgers cap. His club placa reads Westside Townsmen, so props to those gentlemen.

He was planning to bring this sweet ranfla to a car show in Culver City (weekend of May 12-13). A shining example of the classic lowrider style. Bajito y suavecito.

("la ranfla"-chicano slang referring to a customized lowrider)

Galaxie 500 - Santa Monica

2007-05-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

Clean, straight Galaxie parked unpretentiously on the street in Santa Monica.
Looks like early '60s to me, but I'm not an expert. Anyone who knows for sure, please do supply the details.

'62 Continental - Burbank

2007-05-12T23:18:00.000-07:00

Fantastic sign. This place makes me think of Palm Springs, or old Vegas, but of course its only Burbank.
One of these days, I'm going to get a room there and spend my "lunch" hour there with my wife.

61 Impala - Venice

2007-05-12T23:06:00.000-07:00

Captured one Friday afternoon on Abbot Kinney. One doesn't see the '61 as often as the (justifiably) famous '64 version, but this is a beautiful ride. These guys seemed really intent on their work, so I didn't bother to find out which one is really the proud owner. I suspect its the young guy in photo #3--his reflection clearly seen in the spotless windshield.