50's Car Show Photos.....

Great photos and fun to see! Thanks for a glimpse into the real past of downhome American car nuts.

 

That would be the "Rod Devils" car club, out of Port Byron Illinois.... I'll post a pic of one of the club plaques a little later.

 

This one?

 

Great shots. Thanks for posting them. Some of those four-doors have a very subtle, appealing look in the way they were done.

 

Hey, I grew up in Southwest Iowa (Council Bluffs) which is diagonally across the state from Davenport and in that time period that is exactly how it was there.

Also I noticed in these shots that there are several cars with spotlights but only one for sure were Appletons. Appletons were for the most part from California and in the "Little books". I don't think I ever seen a real Appleton until the Customs reappeared in the late 70's.

 

That would be it!!!!
I have one of those plaques in my stash here.... Dad was club president at one point, IIRC.

 

Great pictures. Nothing cooler than shots like that with a family connection.

 

Cool stuff. Marty. I grew up a stones throw from the Village Shopping Center, built in 1956. It's still there, but It doesn't look much like that anymore. Would love to know where some of those cars are today. Is it just me, of does that 40 have a larger than stock rear window?

 

touché !!!!!!!!

 

Those were typical of the times, the radicals were show cars. There weren't many everyday rods scrappin the ground, no floorboards, bare metal, or lots of rust!! Not many guys or gals covered with tatoos and spiked hair either, lt's ok but wasn't the norm.

 

Wow, both of those cars were PERFECT! Love the mild chop on the Plymouth.

 

Great shots Marty, hope you don't mind me reviving the thread. I just found out that a bunch of the photos in my collection was taken at that Davenport shopping center in 1956, so I thought they would fit in on your thread.

Does anyone recognize any of these cars?























Norman Wesp's 1955 Oldsmobile

 

Glenn Kimbell and Vern Bauers rear engined digger

 

WOW!!!! Great pics.... Much better than the ones Dad took!
I'm really digging that shoebox Ford with the Olds grille...

Thanks for adding these pics!

 

I'm glad you liked them!
I hope someone from the area recognize any of them.

Do you know what happened to your fathers Oldsmobile?

 

Here's a picture from one of the first Gopher State Timing Association Shows in Minneapolis. Photo is believed to be from 1958 or 59. Taken at the Lake St. Red Owl, across from Porky's (with the Minneapolis-Moline plant in the background).

 

The Olds was totaled in 1958.... Hit, head-on (at a low rate of speed, thank God!), by an uninsured drunk driver.... Dad's next ride was a '57 Plymouth, but that's a whole other story!

 

Cool pics guys thanks for posting!! Great to see this thread revived.

 

That photo was taken at the very first gsta show in 1956.

 

What an awesome thread...primo material thanks @Nitro Marty, @SuperFleye, @Joe G and the others dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

 

More More More . Love these old photos.

 

WOW! Any info on this car? Looks awesome.