Cars!

Do you like cars? I do. I eventually learned that it’s cheaper to photograph them than to own them.

Here’s a small sample of car photos from my collection. Some are not identified either because it should be obvious or because I don’t know what they are. If you can supply names or correct misnamings, let me know in the comments. If you want to tell me your favorite car, that would be nice, too.

Austin-Healey Sprite, called a Bug-eye in some places, and a Frog-eye in others.
A Morris Minor with a very non-stock motor
My Scottsdale neighbor Bill’s BMW i8
A Rambler American
A Mercedes belonging to the Danish Royal family
Citroen Ami electric vehicle. Unpainted body panels are the same front-rear and side-side. The price is €7,400, about US$8,000.
An early tow truck
Our Polestar 2 electric car
An Isetta by BMW.
Nash Metropolitan
Triumph TR 3
A Citroen from the 1960s
Some model of Ferrari
Citroen 2CV (deux chevaux, or two horsepower)
Me driving a friend’s Austin A7 – terrifying
An Alfa Romeo that we once rented in Europe
Sunbeam Tiger – I’ve owned two of these. That’s a Ford V-8 under the hood.
Messerschmitt
The (in)famous Tucker – rear-engined
My former Audi TT
1942 Chrysler
Jaguar XK-E
A Nash
The Smart – a car that I so wanted to love but could not
My former Mazda Miata
Mary Anne “drives” the Barbiemobile

9 thoughts on “Cars!”
  1. Fun collection. I especially like the first Isetta picture with that cute guy!

    What an opportunity to drive your friend’s Austin, but, yes, understandably nerve-wracking.

  2. What??!! No Lotus Elan?? Not even an MGA?? My favorite has always been the VM Bug with pop top sunroof and small bumpers (pre ’68).

    1. Alas, my Lotus and your MGA proceeded the era of digital photography. It would have been fun to see your hand painted yellow ride.

      Yes! 1967 is the ideal beetle. Looks like the older ones, but with 12v electrical system and 1600 engine.

  3. Fun fotos! My first car was a ‘64 Rambler Classic Ambassador similar to the Rambler American shown here. My mother reupholstered all the seats in a groovy pink/white/red/lime green plaid fabric SO of the day. I could cram 7 fellow Bruins into it for beach parties!!

  4. I would not have been surprised if you had said you once owned a 1938 Cord Sportman convertible in black or dark green. But you are the only person I have ever known or heard of that owned a single Sunbeam Tiger, much less two. Why?!!!!

  5. I loved our MGB ……we drove it in Japan for four years- bought it in England- so it was driven right-side. Perfect for Japan !
    Love that Barbie mobile with that cute driver!!
    Barb

  6. Hi, Steve: photo #8 is a late-’50s Oldsmobile – in pretty rough shape! While I liked many of the quirky cars, the Jaguar XKE (original, with the correct headlight covers and NO rubber blobs on the front bumper) has always had a special place in my automotive heart; after all, it was described as “the most beautiful car in the world” by no less an authority than Enzo Ferrari – who knew quite a lot about such things!

    1. The Jag in the photo is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. It rotates with an early Porsche 911.

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