A nice tow vehicle -- and a second car for sunday drives...

[Creamcracker]

I'd kill for that sedan....check the stainless details on the fenders...and all the nice heavy plated chrome + a back seat you could get lost in. A door that goes thud when you close it! I was born in the wrong generation. What's not to like on either one of these beauties?...and don't anyone give me any fuel mileage crap! CD, you are very fortunate to have the opportunity to see and photograph vehicles like this, without all the maddening crowds of a car show! Doug

The sedan is called a Barrel Back, and this was one of 16 of them built in 1942. This is one of the few remaining. It is stunning.

However, I shoot mostly classics, and the ones I shoot are restored to a condition that is WAY above what the originally were when they came out of the factory. Fit and finish and paint quality on a good restoration is 50 times better than the original.

When I hear the words, "They just don't build them like this anymore," my response is that they NEVER built them like this.

These old cars are beautifully designed, and I love them. But, there is something to be said about today's cars, and their ability to start everyday in cold weather, go more that 50,000 without an engine overhaul, and not rust away in five years.

I loved my old GTO, but my current car is just as fast, and when I hit the brakes, it stops.

I would love to own a classic like that Barrel Back, as long as I don't have to drive it to work everyday.

CD

Interesting to hear you say that they "never built them like this"....my daughter who has a degree in "Antique Automotive Restoration" from McPherson College, Kansas, always reminds me of this when I work on my old car.....as she says "I try to over-restore" as do most people when working on their classic cars....but you want it looking good...right?

Philip

[Laredo]

Philip,
Both of those are a far cry from the closest thing they're building now, eh?

I want it looking factory -- but I want it to *run* (and good mpg is a plus).

I have a K-car (well, actually, since it's a LeBaron GTS, it's an H-body) I want back in running condition. I blew the headgasket one fine freezing morning, and no shop will touch it 'cause it's a turbo. I guess it's time I bit the bullet, bought an Easy-Up and some side curtains, and started tearing it down myself. I'm just loath to do so with no shop / cover / weather protection; so it's sitting in a pasture at my in-laws'.

When it was running, that little four-cylinder five-speed hatchback was breathtaking. Stopped and cornered better than the then-new MustangII somebody tried to palm off on me instead of my '73 Duster.

But since the paint on the LeBaron (that color was called rose quartz, and it was really pretty) is essentially brown ... and the interior, which was scarlet velvet, will need redoing too ... I might have to think seriously about new fabric and headliner. Oddly, that dash is in better shape than my '97 pickup's, let alone the pair of '01 pickups in the family....

Might just have to trick it out as a woody...

[caseydog]

Jeez CD - just what in the heck kind of camera do you have? Because I clearly see a speck of dust half way down on the left side of the window ... it's right there in plain view, anyone can see it.

Seriously though, what's your set up man? Incredible quality shots - I see why you are sought after for this kind of work.

Scott G.

These are not touched up for dust and stuff, yet.

I use a Nikon D3, and shoot in 14-Bit RAW mode, which gives me a 16-Bit RGB file. My sensor is a 12.4MP FX (full size 35mm) chip.

The sky was partly cloudy -- just a thin layer of clouds which gave me perfect light for the dark color of these cars. Mother nature was very kind to me.

[Oasis Maker]

These are not touched up for dust and stuff, yet.

I must seriously work on the delivery of my sarcasm if you took me literally my friend. Flawless detail in your photography with a flawless subject.

Scott G.

[Lesbest]

Was at the Packard 100th celebration in Warren, Oh. in2001. The cars drove and were trailered from all over the country. It was cool seeing them parked at some of the local hotels for days. During the parade thru downtown Warren, one of the most remarkabe things was those 12 cylinder cars were so quiet running, the only noise was the tires squirming on the pavement.

Les

[Todah Tear]

Very cool pictures! The clarity is spectacular.



Todah

[caseydog]

Was at the Packard 100th celebration in Warren, Oh. in2001. The cars drove and were trailered from all over the country. It was cool seeing them parked at some of the local hotels for days. During the parade thru downtown Warren, one of the most remarkabe things was those 12 cylinder cars were so quiet running, the only noise was the tires squirming on the pavement.

Les

I remember the first time I drove a 12 cylinder Packard. I started it, and thought it staled out. I was just about to hit the start button on the floor again when the owner stopped me, and said it was running.

CD

[fireaunt]

These are really nice -- I always loved the ones Dale Evans drove in the RR Western movies. I don't know dates, so are these before or after the westerns or just fancier cars? Just think of how many kids could cram into the trunk to sneak into the drive-in!

Will your photos be published? Nice work! Lucky on that overcast!

[caseydog]

These are really nice -- I always loved the ones Dale Evans drove in the RR Western movies. I don't know dates, so are these before or after the westerns or just fancier cars? Just think of how many kids could cram into the trunk to sneak into the drive-in!

Will your photos be published? Nice work! Lucky on that overcast!

Yes, they will be published. Besides the auction company catalogs, you will probably see them in the classic car magazines over the next couple of months.

CD

[Joe G]

Wow, that barrel back is one of the coolest woodies I've ever seen. The clamshell trunk is way cool. Thanks for posting.