There’s a reason why the concept of the drive-in had struck a chord with so many Americans. Whether a restaurant or a theater, the drive-in allowed for the enjoyment of our beloved cars in addition to whatever else the destination offered. I was reminded of this while revisiting one of my favorite diners and lunch counters back home in Flint, Michigan several summers back. I felt it was especially appropriate that there was both a Buick (1971 Skylark Custom hardtop) and a Chevrolet (’67 Impala SS fastback) parked out front, as Flint famously built models from both makes, at one time.
In the interest of full disclosure, it’s probably not a regular occurrence that vintage GM, golden-era muscle machines just happen to park at Angelo’s Coney Island on the East Side at any old time. While its true that many (mostly GM-branded) classics come out of hiding in late spring and roam the streets of Genesee County through the summer months, this particular sighting was during the week of the annual Back To The Bricks car festival. The main show, the festival’s centerpiece, happens downtown all day on a Saturday in August, bringing literally hundreds of thousands of people and hundreds of classic vehicles to the red brick pavement of main thoroughfare Saginaw St. for a day of chrome, steel, music, eats and treats. Still, the sight of this pairing felt pretty serendipitous as I pulled into the parking lot of this neighborhood staple for a couple of coneys, a plate of fries, and a Mountain Dew.
Seeing these two cars at Angelo’s was a reminder of the magic of growing up in this Rust Belt town full of factory workers (“shop” guys – and gals) who had all the know-how and skill to actually fix up and tool around in older cars, with many making it seem so effortless that anyone (i.e. many a hapless teenager) could do it. And so, after an intoxicating whiff of the Skylark’s vinyl interior while passing by its open, driver’s side window, I sat down atop a stool at the diner’s counter for a meal, wondering who among the other patrons either one of these cars belonged to. (I did end up striking up a conversation with the owner of the Impala, the details of which are somewhat foggy to me now. Perhaps I’ll get another chance to interview him for a future piece, which will hopefully include more pictures of that nice coupe.)
I flashed back to the mid-90’s after having moved from this area (Flint is still “home” to me), when I had owned my ’88 Ford Mustang LX 2.3L. I would spend most Saturday mornings detailing it after getting back from my early-morning shift as a groundskeeper and landscaper at a golf course in Ft. Myers, Florida (dirty work in a posh country club). My car would be spotless when I would drive it up to the local Dairy Queen around lunch time. Occasionally, I would eat in my car, with the rich scent of cherry “Tire Wet” dressing and cherry air-freshener mingling pleasantly with the delicious aroma of hamburgers and fries and the taste of the sweet tartness of a cherry slush. There would also be the faint trace in the air of the Armor All on the vinyl dashboard and interior panels, normally somewhat pungent but inoffensive amid these other smells. Sometimes, though, I’d find a booth inside the restaurant next to a window, through which I’d gaze lovingly at the prettiest four-cylinder Mustang hatchback in all of Lee County. (Ah, to be able to eat and drink what I want anymore without adverse consequences, as I did in my teens and twenties!)
It dawned on me that perhaps my desire to enjoy both my car and my meal at the same time was some kind of instinctual throwback to when I was a young boy and wanted to bring my favorite Matchbox cars to the dinner table. It actually all kind of made sense. Whereas an admonishment from my parents that my toy cars may be (really) dirty and didn’t belong next to where I was eating, it would then stand to reason why, as an adult, I would make sure my car was spotless on weekends before bringing it to “table” at the local DQ.
Enjoying a meal while also enjoying my car seemed to appeal to something so deeply rooted in my psyche – as if that was, obviously, just the way it was meant to be. There’s just something liberating about getting into your own, prized automobile – which represents a near-perfect combination of freedom, art and power – to go your favorite eating place to stuff your face to your heart’s content. I have read pieces about the intersection of Americans’ love of the diner and the automobile which have been well-researched and more eloquently stated, but for my part, I would just like to offer a Homer Simpson-style “Aaarrgh!!...” for the experience of beholding and appreciating genuine Detroit (or Flint) iron over a blue-plate, blue collar feast.
East Side, Flint, Michigan – as photographed at various points from between August 2010 through August 2012.
That food pic just wetted my appetite. More than the restored cars. Wonder if their is anyplace here in Tulsa like that?
There was “Burger World” who appeared at the beginning of Weird Al Yankovic’s movie “UHF” and filmed at Tulsa. http://www.robohara.com/uhf/
You can see a pic of what it looked in 2013, 25 years after being filmed at 1:38 in this clip.
https://youtu.be/-XOUcXRYSrY?t=1m38s
Guy, it’s funny you mention that, because every time I’ve looked at that coney / fries shot since this posted, I’ve had a jones for that exact lunch!
Oh yeah. Wish I was there every time I see it too!
Good food and good cars. Some of the best things in life!
Nicely said. I agree that there is something built into we “car guys” that makes bringing our cars and our fun meals to the same place so great. There are a couple of drive-in joints in my area that are starting to wake up. It is funny how the old cars love to go there.
My ’60’s GM blue car was a ’65 Impala, whose idiot light for the high beams spelled out “B-R-I-G-H-T” in neon green …. so bright that, even at 4 AM, I’d never, ever, fall asleep at the wheel.
First new car my Dad bought was a 65 Impala SS. Kept it until May 11 1974 when he got a $700 trade in on a 74 Mercury Montego I currently own. The 65 was also Metallic Blue inside and out.
Ugh. That just pushed so many buttons. That bit about the olfactory assault of Tire Wet, Armour All and cherry air freshener hit so close to home. My slight variation was the addition of Coppertone (summer lifeguard job), and the “signature scent” was from one (or more likely several) of those coconut scented discs that came in a little square cardboard box with stickum on the back. I could almost feel the condensation on the styrofoam bucket of Pepsi as I read that part.
There’s a place east of Baltimore on US-40 (Pulaski Highway) called “Stewart’s Root Beer Stand” that is only open from Spring until Fall. On Sunday’s many of the classics in the area seem to gather there. My Dad likes to take his 2014 Mustang down there, but parks it on the street and walks to the drive-in, where he likes to wax nostalgically about the cars of his youth, particularly the ’56 Chevy 210 4-door he had in his late teens/early 20’s. There really is something special about the whole drive-in thing, even though it was waning in popularity when I was a kid growing up in the 60’s and 70’s. Fortunately, there are still a few places around like that in our area where the classics gather.
As to the having lunch staring lovingly at your car thing? – Yeah, I’m almost 56 now and STILL do that if I’m having lunch by myself on a break from the office. I park my 2007 Mustang within sight of a window, preferably in a nice end of group parking space, and then get my lunch and sit by the window where I can look at my car whilst I eat. I always thought that this was NORMAL behavior. ;o)
MY EYES!!!! those clown shoes on the ‘Lark ruin an otherwise nice ride. At least they can be easily kicked down the road to someone else with more money than taste in favor of something appropriate to the car.
FWIW, those look like Boss 338s. In chrome, theyre hideous, especially as the diameter exceeds 18″. But 17 or 18 inchers with the black or grey centers look great…on MODERN muscle. Still a bit out of place on classic iron though.
Agreed – I think that the Cragar S/S wheels on the ’67 Impala would have been more appropriate. Or better yet, actual Buick Rally Wheels from the period…
Always a good choice for Buicks…
Indeed. Pontiac also had a real nice rally wheel around the same time.
So agree. I’m also none too fond of Chevelle stripes and a GSX spoiler on a skylark with a vinyl top. Lack of restraint comes to mind.
That vinyl top with rally stripes is like wearing socks with sandals.
Yeah, its really a mixed set of signals. The socks/sandals thing is one way of looking at it. Or maybe a tie over top a Metallica T-shirt while wearing ripped jeans and wingtips. Just makes no sense.
My 1967 Impala is teal, but it’s more to the blue than green.
I need to take it out to dinner more.
It was just a plain 4dr Impala sedan, but that is the only new car my Grandma bought in almost 87 years of life. It was totalled in 1980 which is when she bought the 74 2dr I own now. I do remember the 67 well. Still have a lot of the dealership paperwork that shows delivery date, engine/axle/transmission codes, etc., etc. Even have the owners manual and accessories book and protect-o plate. It was Sierra Fawn with a brown cloth/vinyl interior. 283/powerglide, AC. PS, AM radio, tinted glass, whitewalls, full wheel covers and power drum brakes. It was a good car.
Usually, anything from the ’50s could still be found throughout Michigan, if attention is paid in the right time. I remember there is a Drive-In on 12 Mile Rd and Greenfield Rd, and there are few more Drive-In Theaters too. ( I went to the one on Ford Rd/Wyoming, and actually I could just drive along Wyoming Avenue to my house )
I agree about the dirty Matchbox cars. Typical. ( though the brand could very well be Hotwheels ) I wonder if any kid nowadays buy them as much as the generation from the last century did as kids?
Maybe there’s an app where today’s kids can purchase virtual matchbox cars for their virtual matchbox collection.
I’m showing my age by knowing this video game, but it was the authentic Matchbox video games in the early ’00s, and it was available on the PC at the time. I played it when new. It’s similar to a simple iPad video games these days.
Or one step further, a “toys-to-life” video game where you would unlock cars in the game by buying physical models (e.g. Skylanders, Disney Infinity, Lego Dimensions, etc.).
I think the “Nip N Sip” is the last drive-in around Lansing, but the car action is Tuesday nights at the Olympic Broil.
Tulsa has the Admiral twin drive in theatre…it was in the movie the outsiders.. The Burger World a previous poster mentioned is a Hardin’s a local chain
How true that when young we could eat what we liked and see no effect!
The wheels and spoiler do look out of place on the Skylark but it does not belong to me so I have no say in it……This generation of Skylark and Chevelle are my favorites….and are quite a contrast to the more bloated Colonnade versions to follow.
UPDATE: This location (the original) of Angelo’s closed this week. I’m so very sad about this. https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2018/12/angelos-coney-island-closes-after-nearly-60-years-in-flint.html