There's a Ford in Your Past by CoreyBlack
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Description
This is the driver's side tail-light of a 1964 Ford Fairlane. I've seen this car around the north side of Chicago for at least 15 years now and it's obviously in daily use. Outside of a few dings and a faded paint job, it's in very good condition. This speaks volumes about the merits of good maintenance and the basic ruggedness of old American cars. The car is also a time machine; a tangible example of the world in which it was created and sold. In this car I see a clean lined backlash to the styling excesses of the late Fifties coupled with a more restrained version of the same optimism. The rocket shaped tail-lights say, “ We're going to the moon, and we're doing it in sleek style.” Tail-lights on modern cars say, “ We've been to the moon but we'd rather watch reality TV.” Sometimes they are such stylistic non-entities that all they say is “This transportation module has it's brakes on.”
This picture was made in the Ravenswood area of Chicago on May 12, 2010.
Comments (15)
drgnmztr
Sweet. And yes, there IS a Ford in my past, as well as my present and future. I only own older cars. I have the same thoughts of older vehicles, only in different words. I'd add "Originality" to your description verses the boring cloning of the new vehicles. Nice pic. thanks for reminding us of and age long past.
tennesseecowgirl
It looks as if someone has try to remove that light a few times, and I believe these older cars should be out and driven not just sitting in a garage or showroom somewhere. And one of my two vehicles is a Ford, they've always been very dependable for me. Nice capture
Seaview123
An awesome classic car! Nice photo!
TwoPynts
I'd love to see a return to cars like this...
beachzz
There's a Ford in my present as well; an 01 Ranger. My dad was Ford man, I learned to drive in an OLD 55 Ranch Wagon, 3 on the tree. I love the detail here, those years for cars were just great--so much detail and over the top attitude--great shot, Corey!!
Charberry
I couldn't agree with you more on the differences of style. I well remember the 1964 Ford Fairlane, because I went on dates in one with my husband-to-be. He sold it and then bought a 1972 Ford Capri, which then proceeded to self-destruct. Oh well. :c)
Chipka
I just luv your commentary. It's so in line with what I often think when I see the bland transport modules that pass for cars today. I'm not even a car guy and I am disappointed in what people drive today. Yeah, there are some sexy cars out there...somewhere. Škoda makes a pretty decent car...though the old classic ones are just ugly enough to be stunningly gorgeous. Of course I love a car that has a name in Czech that translates literally to "Pity." Ah...Czechs...they make great cars and pretty darn good machine guns too, and amazing trams...but that's beside the point. I like this photo quite a lot, and well...because I'm a science fiction geek I have to say that I love the way this tail light doodad looks like the deflector dish assembly of a snazzy United Federation of Planets Starship...I mean, come on...this the the little glowing bit on the lower front of the USS ENTERPRISE and the only thing missing is its Starfleet Registry Number. All of that is to say this rocks. I love it! You're so right. Old cars did say: We're going to the moon and we're gonna look good doing it! We have the technology. The future belongs to us.. New cars just say: Uh, yeah...like, American Idol is like, you know, totally awesome, and we'd go to the moon, but we can't remember where it is, but that's okay because you know, like, that science stuff is just too hard and, like...you know...um...yeah. Great shot. This little puppy is making a trip into my favorites.
durleybeachbum
Well, I never thought to hear myself say this about a vehicle, but this is just great! There are many Fords in my past, but my brother owned and drove one of these for a while in the 80's..I must look out the snap with the big hair. The only thing he disliked was its thirst. My first car (in my late 30's, I rode a motorcycle till then) was a 1968 MkII Ford Cortina estate worth £100 which I got as a swap for a piece of my studio pottery.
jmb007
un vieux modele,en effet,belle photo!!
auntietk
There IS a Ford in my past! I learned to drive on a 1968 Mustang. At the time, of course, it was just my mom's eight-year-old car. It was already pretty cool, though! After I got out of school it was my daily driver for about nine months before I had to give it back. sigh I've never been a big Ford fan (or a car fan in general, for that matter), but I must say ... not much compared with that '68 Mustang!
bmac62
Whoosh...! Yep, loved the days of excess myself:) Graduated from High School in 1958. I was surrounded with cool cars. Ford had gone to V-8s in 1932. Chevy got around to it in 1955. Then the dual was on in the styling departments. Big engines were in...a new styling came every year...at least between say 1955 and the mid 60s. Prices weren't out of sight. I even got a new Corvette Stingray in 1963...with everything for $4,700. Oops, excuse me for driving off down memory lane. Great picture of the left rear taillight of this tough old Ford! Let's see...had a 1950 Ford convertible, a 1966 Ford Thunderbird and a 1996 Ford Ranger which I just passed off since I can't drive two vehicles at the same time anymore, like I used to. LOL. keep 'em coming Corey. I share your passion for these old machines!
flavia49
wonderful image!!
Sea_Dog
Great capture and commentary! I remember this Ford body type well. This image brings me back to the late 50's/early 60's when I was just becoming interested in cars. We looked forward to each model year because each manufacturer produced NEW looks, new models and new features. My father and I had a ritual where one Saturday morning after the new models were released we'd go to each dealer and check them out. Took most of the day but it was so much fun.
watapki66
Wonderful shot!
sandra46
wonderful image, spectacular shot!!! i like the rear light that looks an eye from an octopus...er, maybe i'm exaggerating!