The Holiday Mart, where everything has to be hand made, happens at the fairgounds which are just a few blocks from our house. So we walk by there a lot while it’s going on. In 2009, I shot over 80 CCs. In 2016 I shot maybe half that number. And this year? Well, there’s still a decent turnout, but time marches on, so it’s not quite as impressive as it was in 2009. I’ll let you be the judge.
VW bus for me, but I have to say the Previa tugs at me a bit, too. They’ve aged well.
It’s like Yesteryear all over again! I still don’t understand how a Subaru Crosstrek in the background can make a Volvo 740 Wagon in front of it look small but it does. I’ll take that Volvo Wagon though (any of them for that matter), it still looks great.
The red Aerostar with inevitable bumper damage is a ’93 at the newest b/c it doesn’t have a third brakelight (it came in ’94, the year I was born). Several Econolines & Dodge vans are here as well. And TWO Ranger SuperCabs with camper shells a generation apart (with a third Ranger in the background) along with a Vanagon in the same picture! The Volvo sedans & wagons are prevalent too; same for the Subarus. A ’95-’02 Astro (still has 5-lug wheels) is next to one of them. Quite indeed an assortment of older AND newer vehicles here.
Next to the yellow Benz wagon is a 1st gen Kia Sedona. Those did not seem to have the longevity of the newer ones and have gone pretty much extinct in my part of the country. I always found their styling pretty attractive.
That dark green Ford van from the 70s looks startlingly like one I saw in Indianapolis a couple of years ago, right down to the condition and window treatment. I missed getting pictures then, but remember it for its rust-free condition.
That Ford Aerostar brings back memories!
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/coal-1994-ford-aerostar-xlt-lots-of-space/
That Tercel in the lead pic, in that Toyota “we can sell anything because VRA” washed-out-burnt-orange color…I haven’t seen one like that in a long time…
Some great cars, and not only that but you’re fortunate the event itself is hanging on to the “hand crafts only” rule, a lot of craft fairs have been all but taken over by MLM sellers.
Great catches Paul and I like reading the other comments.
A former coworker of mine had a Toyota Tercel like the one you photographed when they moved to Portland from the Bay Area in 2017. They sold it to a friend who totaled it shortly thereafter.
I really like the multicolored Suburban from Arizona, do you think the original dealership painted that design on it? Wonder what brings them to Oregon?
The older Saturns, Volvos, vans, and that Rabbit are good catches. I try to photograph every Previa, Metro, Hardbody, A-Body, and Aerostar I can find since they are not getting any more common.
Always a fan of the downtrodden, especially if their negative reputation is undeserved, I must say the “God Lightning” graffiti on the PT Cruiser lacks the gravitas that solid little truck/wagon deserves. Especially if it has a 5 speed.
But then again, that Gold Cruiser’s original color was really (IMHO) terrible, so the hand painted graffiti should do a better job hiding the garish factory paint.
It took me a while to realize that you weren’t referring to the handicrafters as the downtrodden, instead referring to the PT Cruiser and some other vehicles in attendance 🙂
I figure it’s made it this far, along with many others, clearly it’s not so bad, although perhaps it was reincarnated as the Journey and just can’t catch a break in that regard…
I remember stumbling upon some internet forum or other where PT fans were all agiggle at the coming of Inca Gold as a new color option. It was surely not the same exact color as the mid 70s version, but it was close enough for retro purposes. It sure stood out a lot more in the PT’s era than it did in the 70s.
Quite a collection of classics/youngtimers!
On a side note, the Winnebago reminds me of the Big Jim camper I had as a kid. My brother had the brown Sports Camper with a boat on its roof.
The mint green diesel Rabbit brings back memories of a gal I was crazy 😍 on back in high school. Her parents gifted her a yellow diesel Rabbit 4 door. She gave me a lift back to my parent’s house in it once. She proudly told me her parents gave her the car. I asked her if her parents truly liked her. That pretty much killed any chance at a kiss 😘 or anything further. 🤦🏻♂️😆
That 96-99 Dodge Caravan next to the Fords seems to be in good shape at least from the rear. Those are becoming pretty rare in these parts, partly due to road salt, partly due to emissions testing. E testing is going away this spring for us, at long last.
I’ll take the Tercel and Van, please!
Put wheelcovers and whitewalls on that Oldsmobile and that is the twin to mine.
Man, scrolling through I felt my early adulthood flash by. One of my college roommate’s parents had a 1st gen Toyota van, which sure stuck out in mid-80’s New Jersey.
I had to double back to see that these **weren’t** 2009 images—quite a collection of what was once everyday, and pretty rare sightings in my Wisconsin world.
I occasionally congratulate myself for running a 1999 Taurus almost 20 years, but then I see these cars and feel like a pretender……
Thanks for posting, Paul; I tip my hat to everyone keeping the vehicles going.
I’m really digging that brownish Ranger.
Impressive collection for one parking lot, even for an event.