Reflections of the Way Life Used to Be by CoreyBlack
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Description
This is a reflection in the passenger-side window of a 1962 Plymouth Valiant. I'd recently discovered it, sitting derelict in a muffler shop parking lot. For a car nut, spotting these rough, old gems is always like finding a particularly nice prize in the bottom of the Cracker Jack box of life.
These old Valiants were incredibly durable cars, and I used to see quite a number of them on the road...still chugging along at 30+ years of age. When equipped with Chrysler's indestructible Slant 6 engine, they were all but bullet proof.
I haven't seen one of this particular vintage in quite some time. So coming across one of these first-generation models was like meeting a long lost friend.
Though this car is presently on life support, I suspect it'll soon make a full recovery. The current owner seems to be putting it back together.
The Valiant is dead.
Long live the Valiant.
Photographed off North Broadway street in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, on May 29th, 2010
Comments (13)
elfin14doaks
My step dad had a green one. Very nice find!
bmac62
Wind Wings! A concave stearing wheel. And the seat belts have to have been added later in the 60s or early 70s. Great shot Corey. Takes me back a few years for sure. Like the reflections on this old prize of yours.
Chipka
I like photos that involve multiple worlds and this has nice details in it. I love the indistinct boundaries between the very distinct parts of this picture. The reflection of the outside world in the really oddly distressed car interior. There are interesting details all over this, and I like that. The building reflection really draws me. I'm wondering if, metaphorically, the reflected apartment windows across the street are also revealing reflections (invisible ones) of the lives within each of those apartments, all connected by this car! Hmm...maybe there's a story idea in there! This is a great shot.
auntietk
Oh my. This brings back so many memories! Bench seats, steering wheels that were thin and the horn was a separate piece, clocks that never showed the right time, AM radio, and wing windows. WING windows, for pity's sake! Those were just the greatest. They whistled and sang, and later, when I was older and had started smoking, they were great for flicking ashes out the window. sigh Great shot, hon. Excellent work.
beachzz
I had a 62 Valiant--push button automatic, bench seats, brought my son home from the hospital in it when he was born. What a blast from the past!! The reflection of the newer VW in the window is way cool!
durleybeachbum
I lost interest in cars when it became difficult to tell them apart, but this looks wonderful. I also find myself drawn to the attractive piece of muscle i can see on the left.
GBCalls
I owned a 68, 71, and a 75. The only glitch was a small piece of ceramic on the firewall....you would get spurratic charging to the electrical system. I traded my last one in 85...all were great cars, esp the Brougham model. Cool photo
stick
Slant 6's were the best, the car fell apart long before the motor did. Great shot.
jmb007
bonne photo!
sandra46
superb image! it reminds me of my long-past youth, when I saw these cars driven by American tourists
flavia49
wonderful!
myrrhluz
As a former electrical and mechanical engineer specialist, one would think I knew something about cars. One would be wrong. I was woefully misplaced. But I do have memories of a Plymouth Valiant. I got my driver's licence driving one. (Granted I failed the first time driving one, but I hadn't driven in a month, the inspector made me nervous, I had to drive behind a motorcycle, there was a jinx on our family...I have a whole string of excuses, but the truth is I really blew it.) My strongest memory of our Plymouth Valiant is of riding in the middle back seat, scrunched down and knees on the seat in front of me, from New Jersey to Louisiana. There were six of us (four teenagers and two long suffering parents) and it was a long, long journey. Great image with wonderful details and reflections! I like the cover with all the round shapes and the belt wrapped around the steering wheel. Wonderful reflections. I like the VW parked up against the dash. I'd be interested to see it if the owner gets it put back together.
tennesseecowgirl
Fun to read all the comments of what everyone drove as a first cars, my first car was a boat too LOL great shot ~