The Cars We Loved, and the People Who Drove Them: Vintage Photos 1960s–’70s

Text by Patrick Bell.

We can do some people watching today, along with our usual car spotting.  It is always fun to connect the cars to the people that own or operate them (and vice versa).  And there is a nice variety of each, so here we go!

We lead off with a man and a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu convertible from New Jersey.  Based on the fender badge it likely had the Turbo-Fire 283 cubic inch V8 for power, with a rear mounted antenna and full wheel covers for options.

This was the first reskin for the Chevelle, which was introduced for the 1964 model year. It was a very popular line and remains so today.

Here was a lady with a 1963 Pontiac Tempest LeMans Coupe from Culver City, California.  Visible options included backup lamps, deluxe wheel covers, white wall tires, and possibly a remote control mirror on the fender.  It looked rather large, but I don’t know what else it would be.

New for 1963 was the 326 ci V8 for optional power, with the carryover 194.5 ci 4 cylinder as the standard engine.

And a well dressed man was on a rural road with a 1961 Buick Electra 4 door hardtop.  It had a power antenna and white wall tires, while the deluxe wheel covers were standard on the Electra line.

The Buick’s for 1961 were restyled, and lost their fins plus two inches in overall length and width.

This looked like a vacationing man at a roadside motel who was posing with a 1963 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Sedan.  The only options visible were the full wheel covers and white walls.

The Super 88 was the mid level series, between the Dynamic 88 and the top of the line Ninety-Eight.  This Holiday Sedan was the most popular Super 88 that year.

Four ladies (including the photographer) were out on the town in a 1962 or 1963 Lincoln Continental Sedan.  They looked like they were having a good time.  There were several different service stickers on the door structure, something else you don’t see anymore.  They were a record of the oil changes, and this particular owner did not seem to have a favorite shop to take care of the car’s maintenance.  Perhaps they were a traveler.

This was the first version of the style that carried Lincoln through the 1960’s.  It debuted in 1961 and sold about the same as the 1960 models.  But the 1960 model year had 11 models, and 1961 had 2.

And here was a Sport Coupe version of the 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu with perhaps the proud lady owner standing next to it.  It looks like it has been repainted, as it was missing a nameplate and wheel opening molding on the quarter panel.  But it looked very nice.

The Malibu series was the best selling Chevelle that year, with over 240,000 units out the door.

Here was a man with a 1966 or 1967 Plymouth Belvedere II 3 seat wagon with some custom touches.  The chrome side moldings were aftermarket, perhaps a stick on plastic type.  But someone did a nice job with them.  The round badge on the front of the fender did not belong to this car, and the “Belvedere” nameplate came off a 1967 model, and was in the wrong location.  The man looked pleased, so perhaps it was exactly what he wanted.

The Belvedere was in its second year as the mid-sized series when this new style debuted in 1966.

This group looks like grandparents along with a red headed grandson that were out on a sunny winter day in a 1965 Chevrolet Impala 4 door sedan. Image notes report the location as Michigan.  The Impala had either a Turbo-Fire 283 ci, or one of the 327 ci engines for power, and a rear mounted antenna to go along with the standard hub caps and black wall tires.

The Impala was America’s favorite car with over 800,000 produced that year.

A young couple was posing in front of a MG MGA Roadster with a New York license plate that was used from 1966-1972.  It had a red racing stripe, and obviously had been around the block a few times.  The girl was wearing an “Alfred State College” t-shirt, which was located in the town of Alfred, of all places.

It is difficult to date this car since you cannot see much of it.  In total they were built from 1955-1962.  My best guess is an early 1500 model that was built through 1959.

Mom and Pop were out on the town in a 1968 Buick Skylark 4 door sedan.  They liked the prestige and reputation of a Buick, but bought the trim sized Skylark with black wall tires so they could still afford to go out once in a while.

The design was all new for the 1968 mid size Buick’s, which brought a 112″ wheelbase for the coupe’s, and 116″ for the sedans.

Three guys appeared to be discussing someone’s 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport SportsRoof with the optional vinyl roof, Laser Stripe, and bumper guards.  The hood scoop, racing mirrors, and wheel trim rings were standard on the Sport model, and the owner added chrome style wheels and raised letter Firestone tires on the rear.  My best guess on the license plate is Minnesota that was used from 1974-1977.

The Sport models had a 302 ci V8 as standard equipment, with options up to a 429 ci V8.  So the amount of “Sport” you received depended on how much money your were willing to part with.

In the background was a 1966 Chevrolet C20 Fleetside with a 10′ cabover camper and a front mounted spare tire.

Here was a man with a nice ride, a Jaguar XK-E 2+2.  It was a Series 2 model, which were built from 1969-1971.  It had wire wheels and an Illinois license plate issued in 1975.

Power came from a 4.2L six cylinder, and the original list price was in the $6000 range.

And a couple that had arrived in a new 1974 or 1975 Ford F-100 or F-150 SuperCab with Western-style mirrors and a camper shell.  It still had the dealer advertising in the front license mount, but it is unreadable.  The SuperCab debuted in mid 1974, and continues to be offered.  And the F-150 was introduced in 1975, and has long since become the standard half ton model.

There was an interesting collection of vehicles in the parking lot that day.  From the left a post 1973 Volvo 164, Citroen DS23 Break (wagon), and on the right end a 1971 Dodge Coronet.  In the background, behind the man, was a black Ford C series cabover.

Somebody was moving in a 1971 Chevrolet Impala 4 door sedan with a U-haul trailer tagging along.  Two ladies, who looked like a daughter and mother, appeared to be having a good time.  The younger lady was perfectly color coordinated in clothes, luggage, and the car, while the other lady was wearing darker blue or black.  The Impala had a vinyl roof, tinted windshield, trailer towing mirrors, deluxe wheel covers, double narrow banded white wall tires, and a Texas license plate.

In the left background behind the lady’s head was a 1973-1977 Chevrolet Chevelle Coupe, and to the right a post 1967 Volkswagen Type 1.

We have seen this 1973-1977 Honda Civic before, with the other half of the couple posing with the it.  It was a slushy day to travel, and the Civic apparently held it’s own.  It appeared to have a California license plate, and they had made a pitstop at a gas station.

The Civic was a high quality, economical car that put Honda on the map in the U.S., and helped to force some change in the U.S. auto industry.

And a jolly looking fellow with a 1977 Buick Skylark.  It is difficult to tell from this image, but the wide sail panel seen through the car leads me to   believe this was a coupe model with the optional Landau vinyl roof.  It also had a tinted windshield, remote control mirror, full wheel covers, and   white walls.

A 3.8L V6 was standard for power, with 5.0L and 5.7L V8’s optional.  Transmission choices were limited to a 3 speed manual that was standard on   the V6’s, while the Turbo Hydra-matic was optional on the V6’s and required on the V8’s.

Thanks for joining us and have a great day!

 

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