Today’s collection of images is meant to highlight cars in residential areas during the ’50s and ’60s. It’s a mix of images, with some driveways, a few people and much curbside. All in an effort to provide a feel of the vehicular landscape in the ‘hoods during that mid-century period.
The neighborhoods are somewhat varied, but mostly residential. Some are new suburban areas, while others are more city like, dating from an earlier era.
Hey! Except for the Maryland plates, that could have been me in front of our family’s green Volvo 544. It is interesting to see at least one example something other than a Big Three sedan in several of the pictures: Jeep and pickup in Daly City(?) in the lead photo, Studebaker, Corvair, and is that an Austin behind the red Mercury in another California shot?
Yes, on the Austin.
That picture is taken somewhere in Baltimore. Possibly Northwood or Edmonson area.
The guy in the photo with the little boy on the bike (4th photo from the top) looks like he is practicing looking at his future cell phone!
I thought he’s one cool little dude!
Classic cell phone pose. In 50 years, history will refer to today’s era as the cell phone era when we all developed sore necks and backs and thumbs.
A few observations:
1st photo: the windshield of the Mercury on the far left. Hope those are bug splots and not bullet holes
3rd photo: what is the car at the very far left next to the orange Mercury? Euro??
Several photos: you can tell the new neighborhoods. Shrubbery in minimal and any trees have pencil thin trunks.
Nice collection of photos. Reminds me of some of my childhood, especially the one with Dad walking behind the youngest with the training wheels. I’m sure my training wheels are still hanging in my Dad’s shed even though the house has been sold twice since his passing.
My guess – ’58-ish Opel Rekord.
I was thinking a Simca Aronde sedan–late `50s.
Austin A50 Cambridge
@ 3SpeedAutomatic on the first photo:
The “bug splats” (not bullet holes) are reflections off the sports car parked behind the Mercury.
The well setback sidewalks, with plenty of grass between the road and sidewalk, were already disappearing quickly when I was a little kid in the ’70’s. Suburban streets no longer having sidewalks at all, in time. In spite, of large banks of snow in winter. These shots could come from many cities across North America. Such a dramatic transition between ’40’s, late ’50’s, and early ’60’s styling.
In picture #8, I’d love that Galaxie Starliner.
Right there with you, Jose,
The factory never two-toned `60 Fords like that Starliner. I kinda like it! Works well with black/white.
I had a 53 Pontiac Chieftan like the one in the 2nd Pic. Straight eight, power steering, wide track, fender skirts, hydramatic transmission, 3 speed with overdrive.
Smooth ride! Love to have another one.
Thanks for your post. I love these retro pictures from what is now become one of our favorite eras in the US. By the late 50s to the mid-60s life was pretty good for Americans. We had emerged from WWII as the winners, the Korean War was behind us and Vietnam was beginning to happen. I was born in Detroit in March of 1955. At the time, it was very fashionable to live in Detroit. My family worked at both Ford and Chrysler ever since the the Big Three were first establishing themselves as the global leaders in automotive industry. Detroit was a leading affluent US city thanks to the booming auto industry. My family mostly drove Chryslers, with some Fords mixed in, GM, not so much. In 1958, the family packed up their kit, and moved their whole kabootal to Southern California. I grew up in the 1960s San Fernando Valley California. A very up and coming area in north west Los Angeles. I was already a mini Gearhead by the time I was 10. Our neighbors all drove American cars, with just a few Volkswagens around. I made a point of knowing what kind of cars all our neighbors had in their driveways. As I remember the most popular cars were the station wagons. Mostly Fords, and the 5 GM brands. There were a lot of Plymouths and Chryslers and Dodges too. The leader was the Ford Country Sedans and Squires. Then came the Chevrolet wagons, there were a lot of Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles and Buicks. My family continued to drive Chryslers Plymouths, Dodges and a few Imperials. When the first Valients were introduced, my dad bought the first Valient sold in Los Angeles County. He bought it at the Reseda dealership called Valley Plymouth, then it became Valley Chrysler Plymouth. The Valient was a huge it in our area. We had a lot of Falcons too. But the Valient was the big winner. We also had Corvairs and Chevy IIs. And in the full-size wagon category, it was hands down the Fords. Ford earned the nickname of the “Wagonmaster.” And it was well deserved. I sure do miss those beautiful big wagons. The Fords were great looking. But I miss them all, even the Chevrolet wagons too. They all had great personalities, lots of chrome, and they all came in bright colors that really gave our streets a lot of style. Not like today, All we have today are SUVs and tiny little Sedans and hatchbacks. They are all grey, silver, and white. The interiors are mostly grey, plastic and vinyl. So boring. At this point I have no idea where we’re are headed now. I thought it was a terrible decision for GM and Ford to stop building Sedans and wagons. They used the excuse that no one was buying them anymore. They weren’t buying American sedans and wagons, because they only make SUVs how could they? Look around at our streets and highways and you will see tons of sedans and wagons, but they are all imports. I was thinking when the EVs were being introduced the Big Three brands would bring back sedans and wagons as EVs. But the EVs are kinda dying out there. Like I said, where are we heading?
I, too, was in the San Fernando Valley in the mid-60s. Except for the smog it was a great place to grow up back then. First gasoline engine I cut my teeth on was not a lawnmower but a minibike. Hard to believe us 13-14 year olds were allowed to ride minibikes, no license or helmet, on the back alleys seen out in the west end of the Valley.
I love the third picture with the aging Victorian house with the 1950’s iron parked outside. Two distinct eras sharing a moment in time.
First picture was instantly recognizable. Those rows of houses is classic Daly City just south of San Francisco. Back in the day…
Today and in color. Actually a sunny day. I lived in the Richmond District fro 88-98 and one summer I didn’t see the sun for two full months out there. To see sun I would drive out to my parents home in Orinda where the sky was gloriously blue.
…Rows of houses that are all the same and no one seems to care…
How it came to be the 6th most densely populated city in the US. Read the article as the history of it is kind of dark in what was prohibited by the Federal Government. Today quite different and it is heavily Filipino. I had a Filipino girlfriend, in 1990, whose father was the government spokesman for Ferdinand Marcos. After the overthrow he moved to Daly City and was at his place several times with all the family and it is BIG.
https://www.kqed.org/news/11882379/how-daly-city-became-one-of-the-most-densely-populated-cities-in-the-country
I can attest to a lot of what the article says. Same holds for the row houses seen in the Richmond and Sunset Districts of San Francisco. The lower level garage goes all the way back under the house. Very easy to put a two bedroom apartment under and still be able to park your car. You would be surprised at all the curbside classics hidden in these garages that are rarely seen unless you are around when the garage door is open.
Here is how that came about: Also a dark history behind it till 1968. In 1990 I had a Filipino girlfriend whose father was spokesman for Marcos in the early 80s. He settled in Daly City right after Marcos fled the country.
https://www.kqed.org/news/11882379/how-daly-city-became-one-of-the-most-densely-populated-cities-in-the-country
Absolutely right on the dot with Daly City! I’m reminded of the old song “Little Boxes” by Malvina Reynolds when I saw that picture.
The last photo with the ’66 Chrysler is the corner of Sarena & Tarnow in Detroit. From the license plate & the landscaping I would guess that it is the spring of 1967.
These are lovely photos, I remember and greatly miss the Victorian houses .
Of course, the ’66 #113 DeLuxe beetle is nice too .
-Nate
“A Sunliner, sir?”
Me: Yes, please.
I grew up in Southern California, Newport Beach, and there were any number of convertibles. I was at Corona del Mar with my brother and what should I see but a Mercedes station wagon (‘64). I was so excited. My brother drove a’60 Mercury Monterey and we thought we were pretty cool.
The neighbors across the street always bought Pontiacs. Next to them, those folks bought Dodges, the older couple at the corner had a ‘47 De Soto traveller, roof rack and all. Next to them they had a ‘64 Studebaker Wagonnaire and a Nash Metropolitan. My grandparents had a ‘50 Buick Riviera and a ‘57 Buick Caballero. My folks had a ‘56 Ford Fairlane two door hardtop.
Such memories. Things younger generations will never know.
I’m fortunate to live in a neighborhood with people who appreciate the classics. We’ve got the first 5 generations of camaros nearly all in a row of houses on my street. One neighbor has a first-gen RX7, I’ve got a couple 60’s cars (and one from each decade from then until the 2010’s), and another neighbor has two Chevelle super sports. Granted I’m about 40 years younger than them, but we all drive and maintain these classics.