favorite cars of the golden era

[Packin' Heat]

Nash Ambassador. What a car!

 

[Fletch]

Depression Buicks

The Buick Club National Meet was in my hometown of Ames, IA, this July, and it was a rare kick to see some of these beautiful machines even with temps in the 90s. All my favorite cars are 1930s models, but it's unusual to see any but severely rodded Fords or Chevys showing any more - Buicks are all but unheard of.

Here's a 1932 Series 60 sedan. The 272 cid straight-8 packs a respectable 95 hp.

Looks like you could sleep a family in the back seat, and I'm sure people did just that.

This '32 coupe has a handsome add-on trunk. Wonder how well they kept the rain or dust out.

A '31 roadster. Wire wheels were a sporty option.

The '33 sedan, without sidemounts, presents some very clean lines while still being a traditional, non-streamline style.

A couple of elegant '38s side by side. The one in front is a Roadmaster.

A '37 Special, with a '40 coupe alongside.

'37 front seat.

 

[Warbaby]

A couple of elegant '38s side by side. The one in front is a Roadmaster.

The first car I ever owned was a '38 Buick. Bought it for $85 bucks in 1959.

 

[lord_k]

What about '42 DeSoto?

I know it was featured here already, but the picture of actual car is long gone.
Here it is (by sjb4photos @ Flickr):

And some artwork (from aldenjewell's collection):

 

[Fletch]

Striking vehicle - can't be many around, tho. Poor timing.

Sadly, by model year 1946 the crazy front end was history - or not even that, really.

 

[Gilboa]

It looks like a custom chop-top. I doubt it came that way from the factory. If it did, then Lincoln was the cat's meow back then.

You are quite right. After more intense googling I found this rather informative website Deco Rides

One needs a BIG wallet ....

 

[lord_k]

Not only Tatra

Another fine car from prewar Czekhoslovakia:
1938 Aero 50 Convertible Coupe, bodywork by Sodomka

 

[Fletch]

My gosh, what a handsome little(?) car. Kind of a Willys look - except it looks longer - and that's no illusion.

Plus - touches of flair you would never see on a car from a big maker - old-world coachwork plus big-city ideas, and not a little playful impracticality. What good's that tailfin? And look at the sheet metal underneath the grille - a wafer-thin margin with NO bumper. Just that alone is enough of a statement to make it Art!

Even the name Sodomka carries undertones of decadence - of a vest pocket civilization on the brink of doom.

 

[David Conwill]

My gosh, what a handsome little(?) car. Kind of a Willys look - except it looks longer - or is that the camera lens stretching it out?

Plus - touches of flair you would never see on a car from a big maker: old-world coachwork plus big-city ideas, and not a little playful impracticality. What good's that tailfin? And look at the sheet metal underneath the grille - a wafer-thin margin with NO bumper. Just that alone is enough of a statement to make it Art!

See, I'd rather have the Willys.

The Aero just looks homebuilt and unfinished to me. Different strokes, I guess.

-Dave

 

[Fletch]

Speaking of Willys

...isn't this a swell little buggy? 1933 Model 77 four-banger.

These smaller cars helped pull Willys-Overland out of the red - that, and dropping their full-size Willys-Knight line entirely.

 

[David Conwill]

Oh yes, I love the Model 77s. I’m particularly fond of the Australia-only roadster:

-Dave

 

[lord_k]

The Aero just looks homebuilt and unfinished to me. Different strokes, I guess.

-Dave

It was built by one of the best European coachbuilders. Sodomka bodies sometimes look awkward, but their quality is beyond any doubt.

 

[James007]

mine is the 1936 ford roaster in Black like this one!

Cheers

 

[Fletch]

mine is the 1936 ford roaster in Black like this one!

Cheers

My gosh, the color of those wheels. Hard to believe anything in 1936 was that color.

 

[lord_k]

1954 Buick Landau Show Car

 

[lord_k]

mine is the 1936 ford roaster in Black like this one!

My grandfather owned a 1936 Ford Fordor Sedan. Great car!

 

[David Conwill]

It was built by one of the best European coachbuilders. Sodomka bodies sometimes look awkward, but their quality is beyond any doubt.

Oh, I did not intend to besmirch the quality of the build, I just meant that the styling brought to mind the popular “home-built sports car” movement of the 1950s.

Then again, some cars just don’t photograph well, either. I never liked the 1958-1960 Lincoln, for example, until I saw a ‘59 in the flesh.

What powers the Aero, by the way?

-Dave

 

[lord_k]

What powers the Aero, by the way?

-Dave

50hp/3500rpm, 4-cyl, 2-stroke, 1997cc

 

[Aristaeus]

I know it was featured here already, but the picture of actual car is long gone.
Here it is

Love the Desoto's.:eusa_clap

 

[Aristaeus]

The Aero just looks homebuilt and unfinished to me. Different strokes, I guess.

I think it is the lack of front and rear bumpers and runningboards. Add those and it would be a nice looking car.