Where's my car?.....Oh...I sold it in 1964?

I'm not a car man, but there are exceptions.

1939 Chevy.....Really!!!

My wife and I went to a car show a few weeks ago.  My original purpose was to find a 1959 Austin Healy Sprite.   I had a special place in my heart for that model car.

You see ... I did not have a drivers license when I purchased the little sports car.  I figured that the only way I would ever get my license was to buy a vehicle I would enjoy driving.

It wasn't long before I had my Connecticut drivers license and I was cruising the back roads of Fairfield County with the wind blowing through my flattop haircut as I drove by Helen Keller's house and honked my horn and waved. I was single and not dating. Helen was single and I knew she wasn't seeing anyone.  Life was good.

Winter arrived and with it came frozen slider windows.  1959 Sprites did not have doorhandles on the outside of the car.  I couldn't get into my car unless I took the convertible top off. Not suggested during a freezing rain.

The lost Austin Healy  Sprite. (bugeyes)
Note: No door handles

I had to sell it.  I bought a VW bug but I still have fond memories of driving the back roads and honking at Helen. (beep!...beep!)

My car show experience made me realize that they don't make cars like that any more.
Back then, cars were sturdy and beautiful.  They had character and personality. The most popular  cars seem to be from the 1950's.   The Chrysler products had huge vertical fins and push button shifting on the steering wheel. Ford had horizontal fins, Chevy had vertical fins and later switched to horizonal fins on some models.

All the cars of this era had a rather spacious back seat. It could hold three people vertically with comfort.  It could hold two people, preferably male and a female quite nicely from the horizontal posture.
Songs were sung about these Cars and they were hit songs. remember "Beep, Beep?" How about "409" by the Beach Boys? "I get around? Little Deuce Coupe?"

There were numerous 1955 and 1957 Chevies.  The Fords of that era seemed to be very popular also.  I saw several Ford Skyliners.  These were retractable hardtop convertibles.

Ford Skyliner w/continental kit

Old Caddy

I didn't find my car, but I found some memories.  The amazing thing about the experience was that I could name off types of cars that I recognized. I was spewing facts like I was the editor of "Motor Trend magazine." I still know a 55 Chevy when I see one.

Remember the movie "American Graffiti"?  That was my life.  I thought my life was very much like the movie.  I could have played Ron Howard's part or even Richard Dreyfuss's part, possibly even Harrison Ford's role.

My wife kinda agrees with me.  She says I could have played "Terry the Toad" Field who was played by that great American actor, Charles Martin Smith. A sample of his fine work here.  My wife says I could play that role with my eyes closed. She says I was born for this part.

Now all the cars look like clones of each other.  I am not sure what kind of smelly big car we drove home in.
Huh....What?...... The little French Lady told me it was a city bus.

Alrighty then!!!