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I took this picture in 1984, soon after starting my first job out of college. Sperry sent me for training at their installation on the Alameda Naval Supply Center, so I got to stay in a waterfront hotel in Jack London Square in Oakland for a month or so.
This was taken a couple blocks away, I think from near Embarcadero and Washington St. The microbus is pretty stereotypical, but I am a little surprised at the other cars in the picture. Several VWs of various types, but otherwise a lot more American brands than you’d see now. What can you find?
What’s that “Thing” in front of the dark Lincoln… At least 3 VW s in photo. Still popular in Oakland?.
I see air cooled VWs in use almost daily. While their numbers have diminished, on both sides of the bay it is not uncommon. Some are certainly pleasure rides, but most are true CCs.
Looks like a Pontiac Phoenix coupe – judging by the two-tone paint, I’d say one of the fancier LJ versions:
That’s a very interesting mixture of vehicles. Could that actually be a Rover 3500 in the center?
Spoke too soon; on second thought it’s probably an early Supra. Thought I’d found a real unicorn for a minute.
For the cars facing to the right next to the gentlemen on the side walk
-Buick Regal Coupe (’76 or ’77)
-Nissan (Sentra??, hatchback)
-Pontiac Phoenix (’81 to ’84)
-VW Beetle (’70s, 12 volt, yuck!!)
-Ford Granada (’75 to ’77, round headlight)
-Olds Cutlass Supreme (square back ’80 to ’85)
-Cadillac Coupe DeVille (’77 thru ’79)
-Toyota Celica (’77 to ’81)
Best I can do
If you stayed at the Jack London Square, that would account for the tall sign to the right in the photo (JL Inn). Looking on Google for the sign, can’t find it.
The sign post is still there, but the sign itself is different. (Jack London Inn). The building under it in the picture is still there, but all of the vacant lots are now built up.
I think the second car (right behind the pedestrian) is a Honda?
Back then, who would have believed that the most valuable car in this picture in 2020 would be the ratty VW hippie bus?
I actually count at least four VWs, including a Rabbit and Thing on the far side of the street. Hard to believe that VW was still the most commonly seen import into the 1980s.
Did you survive the merger with Burroughs?
I did, though I left fairly soon after, in 87.
Is that the tail end of a white E Type Jag peeking out on the left? As for the number of VW’s, it doesn’t surprise me, and there are quite a few Toyota’s here as well. But as a lifetime Bay Area resident (born in Oakland) I am a little surprised at the number of domestic cars visible. From my earliest memories in the early sixties, imports were common here and to me, perhaps more memorable. But in fact, there were obviously lots of domestics on the streets here well through the GM A and X Body, and Taurus lifetimes. In fact, for 1984, I’m surprised to see only one Pinto.
Finally, just like the Bay Area’s famed micro-climates attributed to the marine effect and local mountains and valleys, I think there are significant automotive micro-zones. This is particularly noticeable today with Tesla’s and domestic 3/4 ton pickups. Depending on the zip code, one or the other could be the most common vehicle on the street.
Jack London Square is also a great place to soak up frequent railroad street running.
I wasn’t yet interested in trains at this time, but several of the other photos from the trip show tracks running down the street. If I were there now I’d probably focus more on that.
I thought for a moment it was a Hess GMC motorhome on top of the microbus, but alas, it is just a Barbie Motorhome…
The title of this essay confused me “Oakland 1984.” The Oakland has not been built since the late 1920’s. i have attached a 1927 model for you all. Yours in mirth and my girth, Tom