Saturday, April 04, 2009

Thematic Photographic 43: "Reflective" v.3.0 - 1957 Chevy Bel Air Coupe


"What Every Guy Wanted in High School"
Raleigh, NC - March 2009 (Click to embiggen)

Thematic Photographic hosted by Carmi - Button Image by Smarmoofus Hosted by Written Inc.

Turn the clock back a few years form yesterday's Impala and you find the quintessential classic. A 1957 Chevy Bel Air Coupe. For whatever reason, the '55 and '57 models of this particular car became the "industry standard" for classics while the 1956 model -- which at a glance was virtually identical in basic styling -- labored on in relative obscurity. The only major differences visible to the naked eye were a slightly more rakish rear fender on the '57 and a different style chrome trim on the '55.

I spent many evenings in high school prowling the city with a buddy who owned a '56 Bel Air, so every time I see a mid-50's vintage Chevy I wax nostalgic.

I like this angle for the multiple reflections created by all the different curves and angles in the chrome bumper. There are at least two or three self-portraits in this shot, though you'd have to know who took it to know who was in them.

Violence UnSilenced


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5 comments:

Kaylia Metcalfe said...

Lately is has been car central over here!

Not that I mind...

:)


Did I ever tell you about bumming a ride from a rather strange couple of guys because I wanted to ride in their car soooo bad?

Ahh the folly of youth.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

That's a neat car. My husband had a 1950's era 190 SL (mabye a 57) that looked like a James Bond car. It wasn't a gull wing, but it looked just like them. He bought it when it was vintage (over 25 years old), and it had only about 50,000 original miles on it. It was a dark gray with red interior. Just a honey! Someone wrecked into it one night in front of our house and ran. But it destroyed the frame so the insurance company paid for it. The only thing I didn't like about it is that it didn't have AC in Florida, and it didn't have power steering which made it hard for me to drive it. But it was a beauty.

My sister had a blue ss-396 in the early 1970's, and you could put your foot on the accelerator and be half way down the block before you knew it. LOL! She traded it for a VW when she moved to San Francisco. My husband had a similr model that he souped up, adding headers or glass packs or maybe both... it was LOUD and fast. ;-)

Sheila :-)

Susan English Mason said...

I like reflections on shiny things like bumpers too. Cool car.

Shadow said...

i love me your car pics!

Lil Bit said...

Cool chrome capture!

(lol, cccccccccc)

That car show looked like fun!