JUNE 16 STAR OF THE WEEK: ’58 PLYMOUTH-JET AGE FINS DEFINED AN ERA
There was an overwhelming sense of optimism in the 1950s. This was the official start to the space age so anything with push button convenience and fins defined this era.
The 1950s had everything including jets that could get you where you wanted to go at 500 miles per hour.
Cars had to reflect this new age of technology and Chrysler Corporation was the epicenter of the jet age influence in automotive style.
Virgil Exner was the guy who lead the charge with his Forward Look cars. This ’58 Plymouth Star of the Week was at a show last week and it truly reflected the “anything is possible” attitude of the 50’s post-war era.
The jet in the background was a big influence.
JUNE 15 STAR OF THE DAY: ’57 NASH METROPOLITAN-CUTER THAN A CARDBOARD BOX FULL OF PUPPIES
The Nash Metropolitan was a “aaaaw that’s so cute” car that made women want to grab it and give it a big hug.
You could never elicit the same response with a 427 Shelby Cobra.
The Met was a little ahead of its time in the 50s because that was a heavily chromed, space age era when 5.5 miles per gallon was perfectly acceptable.
Form over function was the order in ’57 when Elvis was a young punk on the stage, fins reached higher every year and this Met was brand new .
The Met was different, it was so benign and friendly that The Three Stooges could troll for chicks in it…successfully.
This MSCC Star of the Day ’57 Met was on the street a few days ago and one thing was certain-it’s still cuter than a cardboard box full of puppies.
JUNE 14 STAR OF THE DAY: YELLOW IS NOT MELLOW WITH OLD IRON
A guy named Donovan Leitch had a huge hit in the 60s with a song called Mellow Yellow. He wasn’t referring to old iron.
Yellow is a power color with classic hot rods or muscle cars because it enhances the unique lines found in these vehicles. Case in point-the yellow ’32 Ford in American Graffiti.
That car was a magnet for would-be challengers and the police because it was loud, proud, fast and yellow.
All yellow cars have one thing in common…you can’t take a bad picture in bright light, crappy light, no light and anything in between.
This MSCC Star of the Day rod was at show last night and it proved that mellow yellow means point, shoot and get a great picture.
JUNE 13 STAR OF THE DAY: STUDEBAKER SILVER HAWK-YOU CAN’T MANUFACTURE STYLE
There’s been a deluge of new car ads that exploit the unwitting public.
They’ll claim that you can jump behind the the wheel of some generic and lethally bland new econo-box and suddenly you’re the most stylish guy on the road.
That’s Madison Avenue at its lowest.
This MSCC Star of the Day Silver Hawk was on the road last Saturday-this is real world classic style…unlike the life of illusion found in hyped-up new car ads.
JUNE 12 STAR OF THE DAY: 1952 JAGUAR XK 120-SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO READ THE LABEL
This ’52 Jaguar XK 120 was at a car show back in September 2010. The guy who owned it usually kept the hood closed because he didn’t want to uncover the 302 Ford under the hood.
He’s a hardcore Jag guy and he wanted to protect himself from the darts that get aimed at guys who go “off-stock” with classic British iron.
Full disclosure here-he bought this Jag with the 302 Ford already under the hood and there were a lot of car guys who loved the swap.
He put a disclaimer on the car that pointed out that it was going to be brought back to stock Jag under the hood.
Regardless of the outcome, this XK 120 is the Star of the Day because it pointed out how a car can wear a label (“stock” versus “modified”) that can build camps in the hobby.
JUNE 11 STAR OF THE DAY: A COUPLE OF CLASSIC CHEVY TRUCKS LIGHT UP A RAINY AFTERNOON
There’s an old saying that “a bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at work”. The same thing applies to car shows.
A car show under less than ideal conditions can still provide a level of entertainment that’s 100 times better than the 16,000th rerun of Friends on TV.
It’s not even a fair fight when you compare a car show to work.
Sunday was was a good example because these two classic Chevy trucks were at a show that had to be shortened because of rain.
Nevertheless, they made MSCC Star of the Day status because they were the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
JUNE 10 STAR OF THE DAY: 1966 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX-LARGE AND IN CHARGE PONCHO
The Pontiac Grand Prix debuted in 1962. It was built to answer the need for affordable performance in the Poncho lineup.
Grand Prixs were designed to fly under the radar because they were a little more minimalist in the trim department but under the hood they were all business.
This ’66 Pontiac Grand Prix was at a show this past Saturday and it was great example of just how cool these cars were back in an era when there was lot of competition for cool.
This Poncho was MSCC Star of the Day cool the second the picture was taken...
For a look back at past MSCC Stars of the Day please follow this link.
