Classic Cars And Family Pets In Vintage Photos - 1950s-1970s

Text by Patrick Bell.

Pets are part of the family for most people, and that is what we are featuring today along with their cars. Take a look and see if you can relate to any of these vintage photos of a day in the life of a pet, their owners, and their cars.

We begin with a well dressed couple with a pair of cats, and the next door kids photobombing to the left, one who was wearing his western shirt and hat.

Behind the couple was a clean 1951 Buick Special DeLuxe 4 door Tourback Sedan with the optional backup lamps. It had a 1954 Texas license plate and looked very nice for a three year old car. Apparently they kept it in the garage as much as possible.

Four ladies were posing with a collie dog on a warm summer day. Lassie was a popular TV show in this era, so collies made popular pets.

In the driveway was a two tone 1955 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe 4 door sedan. It was their most popular model that year.

This must have been the Hat family, as everyone was wearing one, even the dog. Dad was checking the map, the boy was playing with the family springer spaniel, the girl was outside reading a Walt Disney comic book, and Mom was the photographer.

Their car was a 1953 or 1954 Studebaker Champion Regal Starliner Hardtop in an interesting color combination of blue, white, and red. On the left edge looked like a black 1953 Pontiac.

A young family was out on a winter day with their uncooperative dog who would not pose with them. They were all properly color coordinated with their family wagon, except Dad’s hat was a shade or two off.

The wagon was a two tone 1955 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door Suburban with standard hub caps to go along with the black wall tires.

The sun was bright on the day this image was shot, as the two subjects were squinting or shading their eyes. My best guess is a younger brother and his big sister, who was holding the small dog. Mom may have been the photographer, and perhaps Dad and older brother were on the other side of the car.

Speaking of the car, it was a V8 powered 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Sedan that was equipped with two tone paint, E-Z-Eye tinted glass, full wheel covers and white wall tires. Barely fitting under the carport was a 1957-1960 Ford F-series Styleside pickup with a camper.

Here was a lady snuggling with a poodle that had it’s own sweater in order to keep warm.

In the background looks like an early 1960’s Volkswagen Type 1 Cabriolet, and further back in the shadows was a 1962 or 1963 Mercury Meteor 4 door sedan.

This man was on a beach with a German Shepherd and likely a companion that was behind the camera.

He was leaning on a two tone 1963 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop that was equipped with the optional deck lid mounted antenna and rear fender shields.

Two boys were posing with one of them holding a healthy sized cat, and the other was wearing an “I Hate Losing!” t-shirt.

Behind them was a car I think we have seen in the past; a 1962-1965 Chevrolet Chevy II 100 wagon. Standard power on these came from a 4 cylinder, but the badge on the lower fender indicates this one had an optional 6 cylinder. In the distant background was a 1969-1972 Chevrolet Nova or 1971-1972 Pontiac Ventura II 4 door sedan.

And a couple was doting over a small white puppy while in a rural mountainous area. The snapshot was dated July of 1968.

They were perched on a dirty 1960 Pontiac Catalina convertible. My best guess on the license plate is a 1968 Montana issued in Missoula County, where the seat is a city of the same name.

Here were two images of a lady with a white dog. It looked like they were about to go for a top down ride on a cool day.

Their ride was a Triumph Spitfire, either a Mark I (1962-1964), or a Mark II (1965-1967). The windshield decal was a New Jersey license 1965 issue.

A man in a straw hat was sitting down while a woman was standing behind him. To the left was a husky type dog. They were on a dirt surface, perhaps attending an outdoor event of some sort.

Behind them was a pre-1970 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback with a tarp over the open liftgate. Behind it was a maroon 1964 Chevrolet Bel Air with a missing headlamp trim ring, and in the background was a two tone 1958 Chevrolet Brookwood wagon.

A black puppy on a leash was hanging out with two boys, one who appeared to be flashing the peace sign.

They were near a 1969 Chevrolet Caprice Sedan with a vinyl roof, and a missing rear wheel opening molding. In the background above the rear window was the cab roof of a 1967-1972 Ford F-series.

The white dog was checking out some unfamiliar surroundings as the woman and the girl were working to keep it under control. They were taking a break at a scenic overlook of the valley below.

Their traveling machine was a 1971 Ford Torino GT SportsRoof that had wheel trim rings to accent the standard hub caps and narrow band white walls. The hood scoop, dual racing mirrors, and bench seat were all standard on the GT model.

A squirrel was looking for goodies in the grass by a parking lot. All of the visible license plates were from Tennessee in a style used from 1971-1975, and were issued in Davidson County where the seat is Nashville. So that was most likely the location of the squirrel.

Beginning on the left edge was a 1973 Mercury Cougar with a full vinyl roof, a 1964 Chevrolet Impala Sport Sedan, a gold 1971 Pontiac Grand Ville 4 door hardtop, blue 1967 Plymouth Belvedere II 4 door sedan or wagon, and a 1971 Ford LTD.