Monday, June 16, 2008

Father's Day Classic

Yesterday was Father's Day, and the Pasadena Police Department hosted a Classic Car Show on Colorado Blvd. I posted a few more shots on Overdog.

As with any antique, the item itself is enriched with the provenance. I like the story on Mark's 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.

1972 was the last year Oldsmobile made a convertible. This car belonged to Mark's dad, who handed it down to Mark. The upholstery (with bucket seats) is in perfect condition, and it's the same buttery white as the fenders. The car's original color was the intense orange/rust of the mag wheels. If you click on this photo to enlarge it, you'll even discern a pinstripe to match, running the length of the car.

Mark's not an antique car aficionado. He's an aficionado of this car. It's part of the family. He told me he'd once thought of selling it, and his wife said, "Over my dead body."

I probably could have gotten a better picture of the car. But this is really a picture of Mark's pride and joy.

Tomorrow will be Zen Tuesday. Mark your calendars.

14 comments:

USelaine said...

Nice! I agree that about stories and provenance. And the wife stepped in and saved him from himself - sometimes that's what it takes. A well chosen spouse.

David said...

Nice ride. Must be a blast driving around in a vintage convertible.

June is the nice month in Chicago. This weekend we had the Old Town Art Fair, the Cubs are in first place - all is right with the world.

Knoxville Girl said...

But it's not really just about the car, is it? So, you illustrated the story much better by including all the characters in your photo. The wife, of course, is present too, but is out of the frame. :)

marley said...

Nice looking car. Just how they should be!

I'm away to Greece for my holiday so I'll catch up with you when I'm back next week. See you then :)

John Sandel said...

Orange flame mags—nice!

Christie said...

I'm not fond of orange anything (except juice) but I do love a great convertible! What a sweetheart of a wife too!

Jim Klenke said...

That Cutlass is nice. Reminds me of a friends car from when I was in school. His wasnt a convertable though. Hard to think its an antique now.

Petrea Burchard said...

Yeah, it's one thing if something's old. It's quite another if it's got a story behind it. That's why an early 18th century French chair is all the more valuable if you know Louis XIV sat in it.

Marley--enjoy the vacation! Take pictures!

Jim--most things it takes longer, but I think a car's an antique after only 25 years.

David--Cubs? First place? Must be global warming.

John Sandel said...

Cubs'll wilt, trust me.

(And this from a former Wrigleyville resident: Cornelia & Addison, where my car got stolen one winter night; anybody seen a beige '76 Celica with a bad crossover pipe?).

¡¡ NO LIGHTS !!

Louis la Vache said...

Petrea - think of the song -
"You are my ins-pir-a-tion"....

Petrea Burchard said...

I think this is the year of the Cubs! Stranger things have happened.

Okay, maybe not.

Thank you, Louis. That's a great post!

Lydia said...

I was thinking you'd featured this car with the hood up -- open up and say "OM" -- for Zen Monday. Then read about it being on Tuesday.
I once had a 1956 Ford named Buster; love those old cars!

Petrea Burchard said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Petrea Burchard said...

Lydia, I need to pin a big sign on my nose to remind me about Zen Monday.