<![CDATA[Comments from phonehome]]> <![CDATA[Comments from phonehome]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1957 Cadillac Sedan de Ville]]> @TinaChow:
You nailed it, Tina!
Sputnik was in space, we had to get to the moon.
Who cares if there's only rocks and dust there!

As for the "throw away the dyes" strategy, if you look at Ford's re-creation of the '57 T-Bird 50 years later, it's a bit of a stretch to say they realized a good design and were better late than never.

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on Bullitt Chase Sequence Mapped, Proves a Tough Route]]> @kfdave:
I like the way the Mustang pops up too! Sounds like a Ferrari to me. Also looks more aerodynamic than the Charger.
Why do the bad guys run from McQueen at that point when they were just trying to CATCH him the minute before?

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on Bullitt Chase Sequence Mapped, Proves a Tough Route]]> @west-coaster:
Right on west-coaster!
Suffice to say, those Don't Walk signs that count down from 10 wouldn't help the pedestrians in this movie.
Definitely the way SF should be driven. Fat-ass busses and crisscrossing streetcar tracks!?
Fuhgedddaboutit!!!

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on Killer Wasps In Your Toyota: Why The Metric System Sucks]]> @Rust-MyEnemy:
Are you saying that the killer wasps are 4 feet tall?
Man, that is scary!

Re: metric system
When there was a Euro version of "Motor Dork" on our local PBS, the silky voiced female commentator would slyly announce that the new Mercedes could achieve 500 Newton Metres of torque.

I can't convert that to horses hooves pounding but I guess it's impressive.

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1964 Chrysler Newport]]> @Chevy59: You are right about it being good to leave in a parking lot. Reminds me of the fantasy vehicles that Mad Magazine once pictured for getting even with rude motorists -- this one is a lock for getting even with the people who flung their doors into you when your car was new.

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1964 Chrysler Newport]]> @Zarba: Kinda makes you wonder if it passes smog too, though, doesn't it?
But 2 year old vehicles have to have the inspection -- yeah, like that matters.

I'm also guessing that this car was either a beach car or northern car.

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1964 Chrysler Newport]]> @Bumblebee: "triple-stacked ramparts"? I think you're right! I thought the gold one on the side was a crown -- kindof evocative of the Chrysler Newport or the old Imperial margarine commercials.

I also like how the owner didn't mind taking up a little of the space behind his car either!!

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1964 Chrysler Newport]]> @brandegee: Good one Brandegee! You don't have to explain though. Pix are worth 1000 words. TonyD doesn't get it; you do.

I like that the important stuff stayed in excellent condition -- the 3 ornaments someone referred to as "triple stacked ramparts" in the grille and the gold "crown" on the side are as bright as new!
And doubters said there was planned obsolescence!

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on Display Cars of CES are Pretty, Loud]]> @sos10: um, I guess this means you didn't buy into the "buy the car, get the gurl" thing?

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon]]> You show great wisdom, Murilee. Anyone who mentions Caprice and swaybars in the same breath knows what they're talking about. I used to take a '69 Caprice over the Santa Cruz mountains -- making those curves at highway speeds could easily wind you up in the oncoming lane. Kinda gives new meaning to the old saw "drives like a boat."

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1950 Plymouth Deluxe]]> @scottydawg: Well said. It is a funny place. Close enough to Berkeley yet still with vestiges of its Navy port. So you have a combination of earth-firsters and survivalists.
You can tell which car owners like to preserve their oldie-but-goodie and which car owners really NEED their car!

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon]]> @MeatFarley: You hit the nail on the head.
Has to be either a beach car or a northern car. Northern states de-ice their roads with stuff that turns the thickest metal to dust faster than Superman. In this case, the car prolly lived its whole life near the bay, which qualifies as beach car.

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on You Wish Your Hummer Could Do This: Pinzgauer!]]> It's interesting that the owner felt fond enough of this vehicle to give it a cutesy name on a vanity plate.

If I saw one of these on my block in the '70s, I would've sworn the Russkies had just invaded.

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1950 Dodge Pickup]]> I always loved the "portholes" or quarter-panel windows on the back of the cab.
I wonder why they were eliminated?
Prolly, some mucky muck figured that by eliminating the windows they could save an extra $2.50 per vehicle plus they were too safe.

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 1960 Cadillac Sixty-Two Coupe]]> Great shot of the fin silhouetted against the sky, Murilee!

I'd hate to take one of those in thigh, let alone family jewels. oooh, that could hurt!*@

You always had to tread carefully when one of these babies was being backed out of the local supermarket...

I also like the vintage advertisement. There was a great parody of these advertisements in Mad magazine one time. Showed the back seat to appear as if about a mile long;<)

]]> <![CDATA[phonehome commented on 150 Old Cars Down On Alameda's Street]]> You just made my day, Murilee, (to coin a phrase)!
It really does look like an island that time forgot -- with residents that still like vintage iron, aren't trying to keep up with the joneses, and prolly don't have to worry about speeding. Ain't that America, just you and me, ain't that America, somethin' to see ....

I think you're really stacking the deck though: a VW flatbed, Econoline pickup, Corvair van, Nova and Kharman Ghia convertibles, an original Avanti?! Shut up!

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