Motion Pictures Vintage L.A. Car Club Footage

[Ryan]

Frankly, I'm not sure what in the hell this video is all about. It features some wonderful 1950's era footage of what seems to be an L.A. area car club prepping for a drag race of some sort. Only, they are driving around in 4-door stockers painted ...

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[shooter54]

strange.
fun to watch though.

[Mazooma1]

That music is kind of creepy, weird, but it fits the film just right, for some reason. The Cajon Pass part is the old part of Route 66, still there is you know where to find it.
That diesel truck sure reminds me of "Duel" with Dennis Weaver.
The car lettered with the City of Maywood (Roth) and all the nearby cities such as Bell, Bellflower, Compton. etc., etc. is a reminder of what was such a hot-bed of speed shops, Bell Auto, many car clubs, top painters, custom shops, ....that whole area off of what is now the Long Beach Freeway from South Gate all the way to Long Beach was just thriving all through the 50's and 60's, it really was a hub of all things "cars" related.
I swear, I going to put an album together of all those spots...
1960:

2 weeks ago

1958, Roths business card, with Kelly and Baron


two weeks ago...


cool video...the more I hear that music the better it fits the film...good one!!!! Thanks

[Terry O]

Looks like it's about friends doing things with their cars in a much more peaceful time. An economy run? when gas was 32 cents?....probably had nothing to do with price but everything to do with competition.
I think that's the same cop that flagged me over in Barstow.

Terry

[Chris Casny]

Safety and Economy run from LA to Barstow.

[KJSR]

Barstow sure looked alot better back then

[Rolleiflex]

I posted this back in Feb.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=336045

[JeffreyJames]

I can always appreciate a little Chet Baker in the morning.

[HomemadeHardtop57]

cool

[flyin-t]

My dad was in the 'Igniters' out of Bell, Ca and he was also in the 'T Timers'. I still have both of his plaques and was hoping to see anything on one of the dealer donated cars, or maybe a jacket of a club member from the Igniters, but there was nothing. The T Timers looked to be represented though.

I'm pretty sure the cars were not owned by the club members but rather donated by the different dealers in the area for this "youth Reliability and Economy" run, like it said on the side of one of the cars. My dad had a '41 chevy convert and his buddy had a '40 Ford coupe and while not magazine quality cars, they were a far cry better than a 4 door stocker which I doubt you could be in either club with.

There looked to be a car from almost each maker of the day, even a Nash. Maybe clubs would get a car and compete against the other clubs. Like an early 'keep kids from racing on the street event' put on by the local chamber of commence.

My dads gone and by the time this little film was shot in '53, he was already a Marine. He didn't turn 16 until '52.

[oddrodgarage]

Okay now let's digitally enhance the video and see what the numbers were for all of the different makes/models and which ones didn't overheat goin' over the cajon pass

[31fordV860]

Originally Posted by flyin-t

My dad was in the 'Igniters' out of Bell, Ca and he was also in the 'T Timers'. I still have both of his plaques and was hoping to see anything on one of the dealer donated cars, or maybe a jacket of a club member from the Igniters, but there was nothing. The T Timers looked to be represented though.

I'm pretty sure the cars were not owned by the club members but rather donated by the different dealers in the area for this "youth Reliability and Economy" run, like it said on the side of one of the cars. My dad had a '41 chevy convert and his buddy had a '40 Ford coupe and while not magazine quality cars, they were a far cry better than a 4 door stocker which I doubt you could be in either club with.

There looked to be a car from almost each maker of the day, even a Nash. Maybe clubs would get a car and compete against the other clubs. Like an early 'keep kids from racing on the street event' put on by the local chamber of commence.

My dads gone and by the time this little film was shot in '53, he was already a Marine. He didn't turn 16 until '52.

True ..Many of the local So Cal Car Dealers sponsored this and other economy runs throughout so cal in the fifties..anybody have any idea what ford mecury dealership that is in the movie?

[flamingokid]

I watched that video 4 times in a row.Man,it just makes you want to go back in time.

[Chris Casny]

Originally Posted by 31fordV860

Anybody have any idea what ford mecury dealership that is in the movie?

It's in Barstow

[Engine Pro 5X]

No Bob ?? Every service station had a guy named Bob !! All I saw was a Dick. Still pretty cool as I like any old car footage >>>>.

[hotroddon]

From what I understand, this was an offshoot of the Mobil Economy Run that the gas brand promoted from 1936 (except during World War II) to 1968. It was designed to provide real fuel mileage numbers during a coast to coast test on real roads and with regular traffic and weather conditions. Mobil Oil Corporation sponsored it and the United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned and operated the run. Manufacturers then used the results to promote their cars.
The Youth Reliability and Economy Run was a way to help promote safe driving for teenagers and promote local dealerships. This was a promo film for that event.

[SamIyam]

Yep, it's a mileage competition... or "Youth Safety Economy Run"... it says so right on the doors of the cars.

Sam

[IGOR]

Those guys really kept the local Sign Painter busy. Cool piece of film but I was ready to fall asleep after that. Wayyyyyy toooooo relaxxxxed nowwwwwww.

[Old6rodder]

Originally Posted by hotroddon

From what I understand, this was an offshoot of the Mobil Economy Run that the gas brand promoted from 1936 (except during World War II) to 1968. It was designed to provide real fuel mileage numbers during a coast to coast test on real roads and with regular traffic and weather conditions. Mobil Oil Corporation sponsored it and the United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned and operated the run. Manufacturers then used the results to promote their cars.
The Youth Reliability and Economy Run was a way to help promote safe driving for teenagers and promote local dealerships. This was a promo film for that event.

Yep, club members were issued new or recent cars for the gig and drove'em over a prescribed course trying to get the best mileage they could. Combo "paint a nice face on rodders" & "possible ad gimmick" venue. Didn't make it to the ads all that much and of course some members sneered at doing it. Nor did the cops buy it, they still eyeballed us hard.

[hotrd32]

It's even better with the sound OFF!.............