Friday, July 12, 2013

Classics


Although I’m not a collector (would be, maybe, if I had the means) I’ve always been interested in beautiful cars.  My family actually owned one once.  Back in the 60s, my dad had bought a secondhand 1958 Mercedes Benz 220 SE.  He didn’t pay an arm and a leg for it -- it wasn’t a classic, it was just a second hand car in a used car lot.  But my dad knew better.  He knew beauty and quality when he saw it and knew it had far more class than a Ford or Chevy.  It was cream colored with a wooden dashboard and red leather interior and looked just like the one in this photo.  Maybe that’s when my interest in beautiful cars began, although I’m embarrassed to say, I managed to destroy that car on a cross-country trip.

If there’s a classic car show nearby, I’ll go.  When I see an interesting car parked or driving by, if I can, I’ll snap a photo.  I didn’t have my camera with me when I recently went to an art fair on the Rambla in Figueres.  I’m not much interested in contemporary painting and only went because I had nothing better to do.  But I found, besides the art stands, several classic cars, causing me to run home and grab my camera.  (The Mercedes photo was taken off the internet.  It's for sale!) 
 

 

 

 

 

 

6 comments:

  1. Drove cross country in that Mercedes with you and Irene. Great car...... Oh and great company ;)

    Fond memories!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you're going to drive cross-country in three days and three nights, you might as well do it in style.

      Delete
  2. I don't go to car shows etc but a nice car on the road will always turn my head. My family had one nice car once too - a Triumph 2000 Mk II I think. Early 70s, also bought second hand and much loved.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love hearing about people's old cars, the ones they loved. Some Facebook friends posted photos of theirs. Good fun.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ok, this is too fun. Dad was a car fan too, as am I.

    But here’s the fun part: Mom's car for years was a '58 220 S convertible (2-door). It had an electric clutch--no clutch pedal, when you moved the gear shift on the steering column a little, the electric clutch would go in. It was very cool. Dad found it in the parking lot of a small garage in about '64, and brought it home for Mom. It was black with a white top when we got it, but the original color was pea soup green. When they got it restored yrs later it ended up navy blue with a tan top. Lovely birdseye maple dash. I loved that car!

    And I drove a '61 baby blue MGA for years...I loved that one too! Dad bought it in ‘63 from Mom’s short-lived step-father. I mean they weren’t married all that long. Dad drove it for a bit, sold it to his cousin a few yrs later for his cousin’s kids to use, then bought it back in ‘72 so I could drive it when I got my license. All us kids drove it for yrs, it was totalled 2x and rebuilt, and finally it was sold about 3 yrs ago, it was too low to gracefully get in and out of, and needed work. Someone bought it to restore it. Again.

    Finally, for awhile Dad drove a Rolls Silver Cloud—74 I think? British racing green. Smooth ride. Expensive to maintain. That was a spectacular car to drive around in, and watch peoples’ reactions: That effing GIRL is driving a Rolls!--you could see it on their faces. We kept a jar of Grey Poupon in the glove box just in case. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill, I think your dad's Rolls Silver Cloud wins the prize!

      Delete