Text by Patrick Bell.
The seasons are changing and it is a good time to clean up the car. Depending on which side of the equator you live, it could be the first wash of the year or the last. Either way, let’s take a look at some clean up work from the past.
A new looking 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible is where we begin today. The gentleman was putting on the final shine. New for 1965 were the standard Sport-Master 4 wheel disc brakes. Perhaps the photographer’s car was parked in the street, a 1963 Corvette.
Here was another one that looked close to new, a 1954 Ford Customline Ranch Wagon. This was the year Ford introduced the new Y-Block 239 cubic inch V8 with 130 horsepower, or you could choose the 6 cylinder which was boosted to 223 ci with 115 hp. The motor choice in this one cannot be determined from this view, but it did have the Fordomatic Drive along with two tone paint. The man didn’t seem too impressed with the toddler’s car washing skills.
This man was working on his tan while cleaning the interior of a 1952 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two Coupe that was licensed in Clark County, Nevada, the home of Las Vegas. A new option for 1952 was Power Steering, and it quickly became popular. Other options include two tone paint with some sun damage on the roof, and the continental kit. The owner had a State Farm Insurance bumper sticker and a license plate sized Las Vegas promotion.
A 1952 Plymouth Cambridge Club Coupe was receiving some clean up on a warm early spring day. It had a 1959 Iowa license plate that was issued in Cerro Gordo County, where Mason City is the seat. The Plymouth for 1952 was a carryover model with little change from the previous year. An all new model would arrive in 1953. Visible options were a radio and outside mirror.
It looked like a work day where a 1956 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two Coupe or Coupe de Ville was getting dried off after a wash, and behind it was a 1957 Dodge “Job-Rated” truck that had someone under the hood. Cadillacs for 1956 had a boost in engine size and output to 365 ci and 285 hp on all models except the Eldorado which had 305 hp. The one above also had the optional fog lamps, which included the park/signal lamps and were mounted in their place. The Dodge was enjoying new front end sheet metal which included their first one piece hood.
It was wash time under a some shade trees for a 1956 or 1957 Volkswagen Type 1 with overrider bumpers and a roof rack. Volkswagen produced its one millionth vehicle in 1955, with just under one third of them that year. Their popularity was growing quickly around the world. The one above also had a California license plate used from 1956-1962, and the image was dated 1959.
A lady was using a sponge mop to wash a V8 powered, two tone 1958 Chevrolet, and a 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air 4 door sedan was parked in the left background. Along side the Bel Air and mostly out of the photo was a pickup or trailer that was passing by.
Keeping whitewall tires clean was always a chore, but this gentleman was doing a fine job on a 1963 Mercury Meteor Custom 4 door sedan. It was equipped with a radio, fender mounted mirror, full wheel covers, and a kid inside. The license plate was 1964 Colorado issued in Jefferson County where the largest city is Lakewood. The Meteor was Mercury’s two year (1962-1963) entry in the growing intermediate size market. It was replaced in 1964 by the Comet that had been promoted up a size. Parked in the street was a 1953 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two Sedan.
This 1968 Pontiac Firebird convertible looked like it was about to get washed, even with the top down. It appeared to be the base model, which could have been ordered with a 250 ci overhead cam 6 cylinder with 175 hp, or a 350 V8 with 265 hp. The only optional equipment I see were the popular Rally II wheels. 1968 was the best year of the first generation Firebird with just over 107,000 sold, which was less than half of cousin Camaro’s sales.
“Chicago car owners take advantage of fine weather to wash their vehicles in October 1963.” That was the original image caption and it described the activity quite well. The cars were from the left, the rear corner of a 1960 Cadillac, 1957 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door sedan, 1955 Buick Super 4 door sedan, 1958-1960 Chevrolet Corvette, and the black one on the end I am not sure about.
Two fellows were waxing a 1963 Buick LeSabre 4 door hardtop on a warm summer day. This was the first year of a two year styling cycle, and the Wildcat was expanded to a full series, while the Invicta was reduced to one station wagon model. The one above also had the optional full length body side molding and full wheel covers. To the left was a 1964 Rambler American 220 4 door sedan with perhaps a Wisconsin license plate.
And our final image was a barefooted cutie operating the hose on a 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu wagon. This was the second year of the Chevelle, and it received a very mild facelift. The featured car was the top of the line wagon out of three offered, and visible options were a luggage roof rack and wheel covers.
Thanks for joining us and have a great day!
Note: If you wish to see your vintage photos featured at Curbside Classic, send them to us at [email protected].
I remember how clean whitewalls used to improve the looks of a car as much as all the rest of the cleaning put together!
Bring back the whitewalls !
As the used car ads in the newspapers said: “Automatic, PB, PS, R/H, WW”
Wesley’s Bleech White was a wonderful product if you had wide white walls .
I often used Comet dry powder cleanser, it woo worked a treat .
I try hard to avoid washing or waxing my vehicles in the direct sunlight as hot paint scratches so easily .
-Nate
An SOS pad works well also.
Memories! As a child in the 1950s-60s, I earned my $1-2 dollar weekly allowance, washing / waxing keeping the family cars pristine clean. To this day I attempt to keep my cars spotless clean. And yes, the products I buy today, just to keep the whitewalls on my vintage car clean, I need therapy.
I think washing the car is therapy. Don’t forget the line “wax on, wax off”
The hours spent washing my car especially when I think about it ever since May 1968. At that time it was three cars. Mine, mother’s and father’s. The last two when available and mine every single week for 1 1/2 hours. Multiply that by 52 and then another 58 years means I have washed, my daily driver, 3016 times in my life. Just my daily and no one else’s. That was when I had two cars and not today. Washed the Focus and 626 this Monday. With good weather, year round, there are few breaks in the pattern. I won’t even go back to washing cars when not even a teenager.
Annual waxing of the car. Simoniz came out with Vista, a cleaner and wax in 1957. We can still remember the smell.
Brillo pads for the white walls…Q-tips and tooth picks for interior detailing. A Kozak Dry Wash for in between clean ups. Now I just need to book a teenager.
When I was kid, I was taught to vacuum and clean the interior with Q-tips and toothpicks and it was thought of it as just being a thorough car wash. I never heard the word, “detailing” as being related to washing a car until, I don’t really know?, the 80s, the 90s.
Cool pics. The 1952 Plymouth’s paint looks faded and sure could use some wax and elbow grease.
Also, since it was taken in 1963, it’s no surprise to see the 1957 Plymouth is showing some bubbling paint and rust tendencies along the rear quarter panel. Ironically, washing it probably accelerated it’s demise.
However..how about the ‘Vette and Buick? I think they are terrific !
When I started work the valeter at the garage told me the the thing to remember is ‘windows and wheels’. If they’re not clean it doesn’t matter how clean the rest of the car is, it won’t LOOK clean.
True that – jaded tyres look dirty if the rest is clean.
I used to find car cleaning therapeutic, too.
But with a berlina black S2000 and three others, it became a bit obsessional and it er, took the shine off.
Fool’s errand in this climate, really.
Wonderful site and commentary first rate!
Last car I had w/wide white tires and faux spoke wheels was a ’79 Toronado, charcoal fire mist w/deep red valour interior – no padded Landau for me!
At 29, this was my first “Personal Sports Luxury” car…
Maybe my favorite.
Keep up the good work,
James I Laursen