The cars he used to drive

[substitute]

My father was a true Southern California, born in Pasadena in 1921. Like everyone else he was car-crazy. Later in life after living in Europe he became crazy for tiny little European sports cars.

He made this list for a piece he wrote in the Los Angeles Times late in life in which he talked about the cars he'd owned. He was astonished at how many there were, and especially at how many enjoyable sports cars he had as a graduate student. I personally got to drive the '67 MG (he says it's a '68 which I think is a mistake), which was a delight; he didn't get rid of it until the 1980s sometime. The 1990 Volvo my mother still has. I inherited both T-Birds in series.

The Fiat station wagon famously died by dumping its engine on Irvine Avenue with a uniquely Italian flair. I wish he'd kept any of the cars before that. Wow, what a list! The Renaults were, of course, purchased in France and all the Italian cars when he was living in Italy.

1. '30 Ford Model A phaeton
   
   
2. '30 Ford Model A 2-door touring car
   
   
3. '36 Ford V-8 coupé
   
   
4. '30 Olds coupé
   
   
5. '47 Crosley
   
   
6. '38 Lincoln touring convertible
   
   
7. '40 Chevrolet coupé
   
   
8. '47 MG-TC
   
   
9. '51 Sunbeam Talbot
   
   
10. '48 Morris Minor convertible
    
    
11. '51 Morris Minor sedan
    
    
12. '52 MG-TD
    
    
13. '55 Austin Healey
    
    
14. '56 MG Magnette
    
    
15. '60 Chevrolet Corvair
    
    
16. '58 Chevrolet station wagon
    
    
17. '59 Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint coupé
    
    
18. '62 Fiat 600
    
    
19. '60 Fiat 1800 station wagon
    
    
20. '70 Opel Kadett statio wagon
    
    
21. '73 Volvo 144
    
    
22. '67 MGB-GT
    
    
23. '77 Renault 6TL
    
    
24. '70 Jaguar XJ
    
    
25. '84 Ford Thunderbird
    
    
26. '87 Renault II
    
    
27. '90 Volvo 740 sedan
    
    
28. '91 Renault 19 Chamade
    
    
29. '93 Ford Thunderbird LX

If you're interested in the document we found in the files, a scan is behind the cut

Comments

What a list

[gutbloom.livejournal.com]

My father had a MG-TC when he was young. I asked him how he could afford such a cool car. He said "cars were cheaper then." I've never really understood that.

I think my father lived through the heyday of the white male.

[stimps.livejournal.com]

Phhhhhhhaeton. Honk. BONK.

That would be so cool to have. ;_;

[foo2rama.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thanks for the post, There are a few up there that I need to google to refreash what they look like.

[tuliphead.livejournal.com]

wow, it sounds like he really did get a new one every year! i suspect though that to this day they don't survive.