Vintage Snapshots: Soap And Shine – Car Washing In The 1950s-1970s

Text by Patrick Bell.

You don’t see people hand washing their cars much anymore, or at least I don’t.  As a car washer from way back, even I haven’t done it in at least 20 years.  The pickups and SUVs that rule the roads today don’t lend themselves to washing at home, unless you have some scaffolding on hand.  In its day, hand washing was an experience that most everyone took part in at least once in a while, so let’s take a look back and see how it was done.

We begin with a lady in her hair curlers washing a close to new ’68 Pontiac Firebird that was purchased at McKissick Pontiac in San Leandro, California.  The emblem on the hood appears to indicate it was equipped with the 350 cubic inch V8, along with the Rally II wheels and a dealer installed pinstripe.  She was working hard to keep it clean.  For an earlier view of this pair, see HERE. 

A gentleman was cleaning the windshield on a V8 powered ’50 Ford Custom Deluxe.  He was wearing a green shirt to go with the dark green car.

Three women were washing away on a ’50 Chevrolet Styleline De Luxe from California.  I see only one door handle, which would make it either a 2 door sedan or a Sport Coupe.  Behind it was, a ’47-’49 Studebaker convertible.

Here we are in Seattle, Washington, at what appears to be a Standard station, where a ’51 Chevrolet Styleline De Luxe 4 door sedan was getting a wash job.  The attendant was really working on that wheel and tire, and here was another green car and matching shirt.  At the pumps was a ’55 Ford Fairlane, and on the rack a ’49 Plymouth.  Across the street was a Safeway store.

This ’53 Ford Crestline Sunliner was freshly washed and looked sharp in red (coral?) and black.  It was wearing an Illinois license plate issued in ’56, and was equipped with a spotlight/mirror combination.  The windows were down and they were ready to go for a cruise.

A two Ford household in New Jersey on a cool winter day.  The lady of the house was washing a ’57 Fairlane Club Victoria, while next in line was a ’54 Customline or Crestline.  New Jersey changed to the new standard 6″ by 12″ license plate in ’57, so the old style plate on the Fairlane would indicate it was purchased in late ’56.

A young man was caught washing a ’61 Chrysler Windsor 4 door hardtop.  Its license plate appears to be an Ohio issue.  That big car should have kept him busy a while.

This was possibly a two Volkswagen house with a ’63-’66 Karmann Ghia Coupe out in the driveway for a bath. and with what appears to be a Type 3 Squareback in the garage.  The Ghia obviously had a New Jersey license plate.

It was ’66 Chevrolet day at this car wash where you could save 31 cents.  There were two white Bel Airs in the foreground (4-door sedan and wagon) and a sharp black Impala wagon making an exit.  It was well optioned with one of the Turbo-Jet (396 or 427) engines, roof rack, bumper guards, and wire wheel covers.  In the background was another black Chevrolet; a ’65 Impala Sport Coupe, along with two white Fords; a ’62 Galaxie 500 on the left, and the newest of the bunch, a ’67 Custom or Custom 500 4 door sedan on the right.  The man on the left appeared to be waiting for the attendants to finish his car, while there were two sets of people (family on the left and two women and a man) in the center waiting for their car to exit the wash.  One of them likely belonged to the Impala wagon.

Our final image of the day is a step into the 70’s with a ’79 Pontiac Sunbird getting hosed down.  It was equipped with aftermarket wheels and a hard to see white stripe around the front end like an early Camaro RS.

Thanks for joining us and to all good day!

 

More Vintage Photos Here