Growing Up In The 1950s & 1960s: Vintage Photos Of Kids And The Family Car

Text by Patrick Bell.

Photos of children always are interesting, and cars make the photos even more interesting.  The featured kids were well behaved, and the cars and trucks were the type you could see everyday, so let’s view some images of life as it was.

A pair of twin brothers were riding their tricycles while the third guy had stepped up to a horse.  Behind them was a 1964 Dodge 330 or 440 4 door sedan from New Jersey.  This was what Dodge called their “standard size” car, in between the compact Dart, and the full size 880.  Yet, they also referred to the 330 as the “lowest priced full-size model”.  Both terms were used in the same sales brochure.  It was a time of confusion and an attempt to recover after the downsized 1962 models.

This young feller was helping a lady (likely Mom) stand with him and a 1951 Oldsmobile 98 Deluxe Holiday Sedan that was close to new with a same year New York license plate.  The black car behind them was a 1951 or 1952 Buick Super Riviera Sedan, and my best guess on the background car is a 1940 Studebaker.

And a young girl dutifully posing and saying “cheese” for the photographer in front of a 1952 Dodge 4 door sedan with two tone paint and a spotlight. On the right edge looks like another Dodge, this one a 1953 model.

Here was a happy young person out for a stroll on a cool but sunny day.  Looming in the background was a 1952 Ford Crestline Sunliner with a few minor custom touches.  The hood had been shaved of its ornament and emblem, and the fender of its emblems.  And the quarter panel molding is from a 1953 model.

It was Easter Sunday where Mom was keeping everyone in ship shape while the boy was doing his part by holding a gun on the girls.  The wagon in the driveway was a 1955 Pontiac Chieftain 870 4 door with tinted glass, fender skirts, full wheel covers, and whitewalls.  To the left was a 1953 Chevrolet Two-Ten or Bel Air with a dent in the fender.

We are now in the blue car neighborhood, and it was the Chevrolets versus the Ford.  On the Chevrolet side were three sharply dressed young men who may have been posing for a first day of school photo.  In the driveway were 2 Two-Ten 4 door sedans, with the one on the right edge a 1953 model and the other a 1954 model.  The 1953 owner sprung for two tone paint, full wheel covers, and whitewalls, while the 1954 owner kept his costs down.  Across the street was a 1954 Ford Customline Ranch Wagon.

Two brothers were nicely dressed and posing at the back of a 1959 Rambler Super or Custom sedan from Ohio.  Rambler’s fortunes were ballooning during this era, as their smaller, more sensible sized cars were catching on with buyers that were tired of the bloat.  They were a foot and a half shorter than a 1959 Chevrolet.

Now we have a girl taking a younger dude for a ride with an unknown lawn tractor that looked like it had mowed a few in its day.  Trying to hide behind a tree in the background was a 1964 Ford Country Sedan.  For model years 1963 and 1964 the Country Sedan was the lowest trim level and least expensive full size wagon, as the Ranch Wagon name had been moved to the Fairlane line.  The featured one did not have an engine emblem on the fender, so it was equipped possibly with the Mileage Maker 223 cubic inch Six, but more likely it was the Challenger 289 ci V8.

This tyke appeared to be working on his tan with maybe his big sister at his side.  Their platform was a 1966 Mercury Comet that looks like a 2 door sedan, which would have made it the entry level 202 series.  It was the least expensive and best selling single model Mercury for the year.  To the right was a 1967 Chrysler Newport Custom 4 door hardtop.

We had a gang of juveniles here, out running around with their guns on a cool day.  Some of them looked like siblings, so perhaps this was a batch of cousins.  Their meeting point was next to a 1966 Pontiac LeMans Hardtop Coupe.  It was a good year for Pontiac with over 78,000 of this model produced, though it was slightly outsold by the Catalina.

Here was a youngster that looked like he was keeping the truck from rolling away.  It was a 1962 GMC Deluxe 2500 with a 8′ Wide-Side bed, 10′ cabover camper, and a California license plate.  It was powered by the sturdy 305 ci V6 that was exclusive to GMC.  Pickups of the 3/4 ton variety with cabover campers were a common sight during my growing up days in 1960’s and 1970’s Alaska.

These two looked like they were ready for a ride.  I can imagine Mom on stand by in case the little one started to lean too much.  Their ride was a Francis-Barnett, an English bike with a two stroke engine.  The company was in existence from 1919-1966.  The truck appears to be a 1964 or 1965 Ford Ranchero.  I cannot easily confirm the vinyl roof was a factory option, but it looked well done.

A 1963 or 1964 International pickup was the posing platform for this girl with the unique hat. The truck had a California license plate, with perhaps a buyer’s tag in the back window. The bedside appears to have been green under a coat or two of white, so perhaps it was a factory two tone treatment. And there was some body repairs underway.

This one may have been a man and his grandchild that were attending a family gathering of Rambler folks.  On the left was a 1965 Ambassador 990 Cross Country 2 seat wagon with a Wisconsin license plate used from 1965 through 1967.  To the right was a 1964 Classic 770 4 door sedan with either a 1965 or 1967 Michigan license plate issued in Wayne County, the home of Detroit.  Both cars were two tones and the top of the line trim series.

Thanks for joining us and have a great day!

 

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