Murph dropped me a line about noticing a ’62 Plymouth Valiant on the road today and being struck by how ugly it was. It got me thinking about a post I’d been meaning to put up for quite awhile. A short tribute to the best car I ever owned. Flat-head 6, the last year of the 6-Volt battery and front-seat like a living room sofa: my 1954 Pontiac Pathfinder. The grill was a little dinged, and I was missing a headlight rim. Replaced that rim once from the Barrie Flea Market but hit a deer on Highway 12 and that was that the end of it.
It was a two-door coupe with a mint interior. What a beauty.
And it was also the perfect car to do bad James Dean impersonations in front of…
Wikipedia has a great entry about my first car.
Some of the more interesting optional items available for the first generation Chieftain included a radio with seven vacuum tubes, tissue dispenser, under seat heaters, and a Remington Auto-Home shaver.
Ah, those were the days!
Mind you – mine never looked this buff:
10 Comments
Absolute stunt double for Dean. To paraphrase Billson “not much of an actor either” I think you may have gained a pound or two in the interim.
I resemble that remark!
Well, that is so funny. I recall that moment like it was yesterday and I think I was the photographer on this shoot – what a riot.
Umm, it was yesterday ;)
Yep, you probably were the photog. It was in the driveway at the Log House.
Wow! What a hunk! Isn’t that the patented fist-under-the-bicep pose circa the late ’70s as practiced at H.W. Knight?
Yes, Mr. Argue, that is exactly the pose :) I learned it—as you did—while attending Terrible Tenor training.
Good to hear from you, old bean!
OI, JESSE FELIZ NATAL E FELIZ ANO NOVO PARA VOCE SUA ESPOSA CAROL.
BEIJOS SHEILA
Do you work to restore old cars as a side job? My mom still has my grandfather 1974 Pontiac Grandville its the last car they ever made with a V8 engine in it. My cousin decide just this past year to restore the car. Its need a lot of work.
It was siting for like 20 yrs. I found use cars for people I know at dealerships in my tristate area. I drive a 2000 Chevy Silverado it pull my a horse trailer….
Jesse. Stumbled across your blog the other day. I still have the hat you made for me on Katts, with Soundman on it. Hope you are well. Was shooting in your digs the other day and thought of you.
best
Ao
location sound mixer
That was a HOT pic of you in front of the car!!!