I’d like to think that many of us share fond memories of playing around the family car, either in the driveway or in the car itself. I did spend many fond hours in the garage, with the family car often being part of those fun games. With that in mind, let’s look at some vintage shots of kids having fun near the family car. Some are playing in the car, some around it, some nearby. No matter. The point was to spend a fun time in the open.
Very cool photos! I love the kid on the pedal tractor on what looks to be a sunny, early spring day. The Chevy 210 with the kids building a soapbox derby car in the foreground. But the Caddy and hot rod Honda CT take the cake!
My first car was 59 Ford like the one shown, except mine was two tone green and white. Worst car I ever had. Then again, what did I expect for $100.
These are treasures of Americana! Thanks. I would like to pinch the cheek of that squirt standing behind the Studebaker.
Love the ‘58 Ford in the top pic. The more I look at the ‘57-‘58 Fords the more I like them. I think the ‘57 and ‘58’s were more attractive and modern looking than their Chevy counterparts. Engines weren’t as good and there were reliability problems, but they sure looked nice.
Agree, except I have to delete the 58. I think the 57 was a beautiful car. The 58, not so much!
I remember my dad had a 57 Ranch Wagon, 6cyl, 3 on the tree. Too young to remember what problems he had but I do remember he had overheating issues with it. It had the rear-opening hood and during the summer, in traffic, he drove it with the hood opened to the first latch!
What wonderful photos showing off the American dream .
That Honda Trail 90 is a CT200, means 1964/65 , very good bikes but the OHC model that arrived in 1966 blew all others away .
The kid on the bike next to the Comet Convertible, is that an “Orange Crate “? I remember that being hands down the coolest bike in 1964 .
I had a MURRAY tractor like that by the ’62 (?) Ford, the upper part rapidly got floppy so I couldn’t ride it anymore .
These pictures bring back to many great memories but back then so many children were backed over and maimed or killed .
I could play anywhere but if I was spotted behind or anywhere near a vehicle out came the belt .
-Nate
Those pictures sure bring back the memories! With the amount of young baby boomers in my neighborhood it is amazing none of us were injured or killed. Cars were the best while playing hide-n-seek.
Mandating back-up cameras in vehicles has unquestionably led to fewer injuries and deaths over the years without bankrupting vehicle manufacturers.
It would definitely be an added safety feature if front cameras were required for “standard size” and larger SUV, pick ups, tanks, etc. The ones which have a glaring blind spot in front of the vehicle and need a ladder to wash the windshield.
I’m sure you’ve seen the video where something like 10 or so children are sitting in front of a large SUV and only the farthest child is within sight of the driver. Put in a short driver and it gets worse.
I was about the same age of the boy in the blue outfit in the first photo judging by the year of the maroon seda (Plymouth or Dodge?). The first car I remember riding in was a 1956 Ford two door hardtop. But there is a photo of my Mother next to her 1953 or so Ford Customline convertible when we lived in Miami. But I was too young to remember that car. .
@Nate No, that’s not a Schwinn Crate bike (they came in a lot of colors: apple, lemon orange etc.). Unlike the mote plebian Sting Rays, the Crates had 16″ front wheels and springer forks, to give even more of a dragster look.
Judging by the decals, it’s probably a Sting Ray knock-off of some sort. I had the Raleigh version of the Sting Ray, the Rodeo, which I wrote up here a few years back. (Search on my name.)
(Raleigh’s answer the the Crates was called the Chopper, and was the only bike cooler than a Crate, but alas it came out a year or so after I got my Rodeo.)
Thanx Craig .
-Nate
It’s fascinating that the cars (plus clothing and a few more clues) permit every photo to be dated to a pretty narrow window of years.
In #5, I tried to identify the fruit-crate label, without success.
#9 looks to be a cabin rather than a residence—maybe in the Northeast rather than the west?
These snapshots are always great fun—thanks!
I tried to figure out the label on the box in Picture #5 too, but without success. I’m not entirely sure it’s a fruit box (though it might be). Since the boys seem to be putting together a go kart, it seems that they may have been hauling stuff around in it. Looks to me that the label says something like “Bungalow” but I’m not sure.
I agree that Picture #9 seems to be a cabin.
Awsome to see an s22 comet pic. I’ve posted about mine previously. I had one as my 1st car at 17. Found one exactly like it last August. Put 9k miles on it in the last year.. I’m 71 now and having a blast reliving my youth…
My Dad and his 39 Chrysler he had after returning home from ww2…
The Chrysler
Serious in the driveway next to another of our Chryslers.
All great pics, totally enjoy this site and look forward to seeing CC emails in my inbox
The car itself was the toy on this occasion… Late 60s in Israel with me, my sister and our cousin inside dad’s 64 Fairlane.
I love all of these. I would have made a beeline for any of these cars had I come across one when I was a kid. It is funny how almost nobody gave me any trouble about playing in an unattended car when I was a little kid. Once I learned the lesson about not pulling the lever out of “Park” when the parking brake was not engaged, everything went fine.
We had a ’64 Plymouth wagon that my 5 year old brother decided to play around in, and he managed to flip up the parking brake lever, (it was pushbutton) roll about 40 ft down a narrow driveway, miss a tree at the edge of said driveway, and position it directly across 2 lanes of traffic, blocking the road, my parents blissfully unaware of things until a multitude of beeping horns sent them to the window to look, lol.
Thankfully television and video games were invented so that we do not have to see such images nowadays. These under fed little waifs are just heartbreaking.
What’s the circular thingie on the tailgate of the El Camino?
The El Camino shared a tailgate with Chevy’s wagons. They had a crank handle for the back window that mounted where the circular thingie is. The crank wasn’t needed on the El Camino so it is just a cover to fill the hole.
No driveways in our “congested neighborhood”. Street was the play area.