Ah, how I love anything vintage and this display of classic cars has my name written all over it! I was not disappointed with any of them and secretly wished I could have a ride in at least one…or two…or all of them! As a child and young teen I would see some of these still on the road and now to see these restored and preserved is exciting. So, here we go with American Dreams.
It’s delightful…It’s delovely….It’s De Soto! read the ads for the large sedan with a V-8 engine. And rightfully so as it featured a 12-volt electrical system to run a power radio antenna, power seats, and a Highway Hi-Fi record player (although I’m not sure how you would keep a needle on a record on a bumpy road). Consumers could choose between a 3-speed manual transmission or a push button transmission, the first to be offered in the United States.
This Firedome has undergone extensive restoration. Painted in factory correct tones of shell pink and irridescent burgundy it also has New Original Stock (NOS) upholstery.
Truly a luxury car only 400 Caribbeans were manufactured in 1954. All came standard with leather upholstery and spare tire carrier on the back. The last true Packard would roll off the assembly line in 1956.
Chrome and stainless steel trim stretched the entire length of the car. During the mid-1950’s many of the smaller car manufacturers declined under competition with the Big Three – Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors.
Although the T-bird was fitted with a V-8 engine Ford promoted it as a personal luxury car rather than a sports car. Chevrolet had the Corvette and Europe produced countless sports cars, but Ford had the Thunderbird. The large trunk accomodated the spare tire and the tail fins were elongated in the style of the day.
This T-bird has been restored with all factory-stock materials.
All of these classic automobiles and more are on display at the McNay Art Museum until May 19th. I’ll be featuring others in upcoming posts, so stay tuned!
Small Simple Things of Life 
Love it! They’re gorgeous and your descriptions are great! I remember my dad’s cousin helped us move out to Colorado when I was a child, and I rode with him in his T-bird for part of the way. So sporty!
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Lucky you!
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I wish that they still made cars with shell pink and irridescent burgundy paint. It really makes a car look special.
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It was pretty stunning, but cannot see myself tooling around town in a pink car. LOL
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Thanks for including the link to the McNay! I took the whole “tour” and it was pretty fascinating. The cars were beautiful. I had not thought of them as sculpture before, but now I have a new perspective.
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They are functional items with artistic designs and lots of history. I wonder how today’s cars will be perceived in 60 years! The McNay has some real treasures and it is always fun to visit.
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Agreed! I do not think I ever heard of it, let alone visited, but they have some wonderful exhibits on the itinerary.
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Ah – back to the days when cars were made out of metal – had roomy interiors and were a lot less expensive. A great Post Beth. Takes me back to what I feel was a more relaxing and enjoyable time.
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Yes, they were very different and unfortunately not very fuel efficient in today’s terms. But oh so grand they were!
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