Pretty rough shape? Where I'm from, this thing is cherry...

"But hey, it could be worse- at least Pontiac still exists!"

Oh the times, they are a-changin'. Everybody now!

@danio3834:

Seconded. Here (halfway between Buffalo and Erie, PA), it's astonishing to see a 20 year old car in that kind of shape.

@Paul Y:

lol yeah, anywhere north of Toronto you prelly much have to replace your exhaust every 2-3 years.

I wish i could drive around in my older iron all year round like the Jalops down south.

I have a 1999 that's halfway to that state! A car of that age in that condition would be a miracle in MI.

And, why, oh why couldn't we have gotten those cool chrome stars on new GMs instead of stupid faux exhaust ports?

The style of cars from that period has never been replicated. Its just awesome! IF I had my druthers I'd rather be driving that Star Chief than a whole lot of current cars.

My Father once had a fuel-injected 57 that he bought from a friend and fellow dealer. It seemed that the mechanics were stupefied by the fuel system, and couldn't get the car to idle, but it ran well at all other RPM. He drove it from Northern Indiana (Goshen) to Alberta with no problem. However, when it came time to sell it, he thought that discretion would be better than selling it to someone in his marketing area. It was wholesaled in Seattle. I have never even heard of someone with a fuelie Pontiac from that era. But, even at age 5, in Mrs. Deitz' Kindergarten, I knew what a beautiful car was, and that black convertible, with its' two-tone leather and wonderbar radio was a knockout. These will eventually rise in value, although never to the iconic status of the Chevrolets.

No rust is probably one of our best attributes here in California... And there is not much more than that...

@Trick: Right, with the exception of old cars, the Golden State has nothing going for it.

@jonnylieberman: Ice-T lives in California, so its got that going for it, too.

Time was, you could call a car a StarChief without offending anybody.

In modern terms it would be the Pontiac SC V8 GT.

Too bad the rear car was parked so close...a shot of the back end would be nice (I'd like to see if the tru-the-bumper dual exaust was still there or not).

My first car was a grandma hand-me-down, green '57 Star Chief Catalina 4-door (Catalina was Pontiac's name for hardtops at the time). The spears on top of the front fenders were lucite, and lit up with the parking lights...tacky, but cool...

I didn't know there were any other 57 Pontiac fuelies, other than the limited edition (400 or so made) Bonnevilles...

Sweet car, what a fun project car that would make...

I don't look all that ragged for all the time it's been,
But I'm weakened underneath me where my frame is rusted thin.
And this year's state inspection just barely passed
Won't you drive me 'cross the country, boy,
This year could be my last.
-- David Wilcox, "Rusty Old American Dream"

I'd like to nominate this song for official Jalopnik theme song, even though it's sung by a boring old folky and not some obscure Bay Area punk band. I can't find any free online recordings of David Wilcox singing his own song, so here's an MP3 of some guy named Robbie Schaefer singing it... instead.

So I'm gonna keep shooting more of these old drivers in my neighborhood, since y'all seem to like this stuff. You want imports or domestics?

"... on this strange David Lynchesque island" Nicely put... Drive by Clement street in Alameda when you get a chance. There is a green warehouse with Rogers Trucking Sign on it. See what is inside. Doors are typically open on weekends...

@MurileeMartin:
Yes.

@hxgaser: Oh yes, I know all about the legendary Rogers Trucking warehouse- got enough tantalizing views through the doorway when I lived a block away. Am working my old-time Alameda connections to try to arrange a photo shoot in there...

@Larry Forney: Not to mention all the anal-bleaching, which Ice-T's porn actress wife no doubt is a fan of. In fact, we owe the state of California for just about all the porn there is. California also gave us "hella."

Old cars, porn, and "hella." Not too shabby. What has Missouri done for you lately?

@MurileeMartin:

Old big ass American cars just have more interest than old imports. You said it best in your optimism/moonbase paragraph. Nothing says can-do like a half-ton bumper hanging on the front of a mid-20th century American auto. Although the sound of Ward Cleaver saying "koo-pay" while describing Wally's jalopy to the tow truck guy on the phone does manage to bring even more class to the whole American car scene, and Ward drove some primo Detroit iron.

My father bought a 57 Star Chief new. It was yellow and black and had the "tri power" set up. I used to listen to the "thru the bumper exhaust" and the sound was awesome. Needless to say I became a "car guy."

He drove it from Florida to California and back in 58. The next year he traded it and the guy who bought it painted it black, raised the front end, added fender skirts, curb feelers and a three speed transmission. It broke my heart to see it trashed like that!

I bought an 06 GTO and plan on making a 50 year anniversary trip to California in his honor.