Let's go Car Spotting in the Past!

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 01/20/2020 at 15:45 • Filed to: Carspotting, Dots, Books, The Traveler's Book of Color Photography by Van Phillips and Owen Thomas

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The dust jacket of the book

This is a repost, since I accidentally had it go live on a very non peak hour a few days ago.

This remarkable vintage book* was picked up at a library sale by a sibling, and is now my favorite picture book. Why? It is a guide to the brave new world of color photography, using examples taken by a team of professional photographers on a continental (and American) adventure. Better yet, it is set in the colorful, colorful world of 1972 !

*All images are copyright 1972 by Hamyln House and taken by Van Phillips and Owen Thomas. I do not own the right to reproduce these photos. The publisher still exists, but I can find no mention of this book online. I don’t think they would mind me sharing a few partial images online after 50 years has elapsed; it is unlikely that they renewed the copyright this long out of print, since color photography needs no introduction. Please tell me if you have any information regarding this. Enjoy.

I wish American infrastructure was this picturesque

Let’s jump right into it with a riviera scene adjacent to a highway. What do you spy here?

There are a plethora of classic VWs and Fiats in the foreground, but the commercial vehicles are interesting as well. Look at that streetcar!

Is that a BMW 600, the big brother of the Isetta, in the bottom left corner?

Ooh, this is a good one. Underneath the Eiffel Tower lies quite an assortment. Front and center is a Citroën HY Van used for mobile vending. Then, you notice the Morris Traveler (Mini Woody Wagon) off to the left. The other Mini between them seems perfectly normal here. I could not capture the whole picture, but this is quite a shot.

According to the authors, a line of parked cars is one of the last things they would like to photograph, but this riverfront scene is quite intriguing to our modern eyes. Only about one in 10 photos contains any sort of transport, and photos worthy of carspotting are far fewer; They followed through on their word.

But let’s examine the cars shown here. That Citroën DS really stands out in that beautiful creamy shade of yellow. And just a few cars over is a white FIAT 1300 (thanks Rallydarkstrike!). Two Beetles and two Minis round out this rather pedestrian scene.

Other than the Volvo Amazon coupe and the Citroën 2CV van in the foreground, I cannot identify any non-Beetles in this photo. What is that strange little tailfinned white machine? Edit: It’s a FIAT Millecento, an upscale Italian family car! Thank you again, Rallydarkstrike!

I decided to do this in multiple parts, because Kinja and pictures. Please let me know any cars you can identify, with zoomed in photos if possible. I will update as we progress!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/17/2020 at 17:59

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“But let’s examine the cars shown here. That Citroën DS really stands out in that beautiful creamy shade of yellow. And just a few cars over is a Citroën Ami. Two Beetles and two Minis round out this rather pedestrian scene.”

As Oppo’s resident FIAT aficionado, I must disagree with your assessment and regretfully inform you that the car you have labelled as an Ami, is most certainly not, and is indeed, a FIAT 1300! :P

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_1300_and_1500#Fiat_1500_L_/_1500_Taxi

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/17/2020 at 22:42

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Oh no! I take my knowledge of obscure (to ‘Muricans) European cars very (too?) seriously and I will fix this immediately. I am not very familiar with any of those, but it certaintly is charming.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/17/2020 at 23:08

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Haha, no worries! I am actually not as familiar as I would like with all FIATs of the ‘50s/’60s/’70s, but I did recognize that one! :)

Also, I must’ve completely missed the last pic of yours where you were curious about the little white finned car....I can kindly assist you there with m y FIAT knowledge too! That is most certainly the rear end of a charming little FIAT Millecento (Italian for 1100!) :D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_1100

If you’d like to learn more about the 1100, Jay Leno actually owns one and has a nice video on it! :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uk-qkmCXRc

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/17/2020 at 23:15

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Thank you! I will repost this Monday since Oppo is quiet but then I will do a part two. You will probably have to l e nd your knowledge then too.

KnowsAboutCars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/20/2020 at 16:35

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There appears to be at least one Volvo Duett in the first photo. Opel Rekord(?) sitting next to it under the stairs.

2nd photo: Note the Ford Taunus next to the Isetta. It’s remarkable how closely it resembles American fullsize Fords of its day. Also, couple of Opels.

3rd photo is indeed a nice one

In the last photo there’s a Ford Taunus wagon (next to the white Fiat), the rear end of a light blue Ford Consul Classic (note the reverse rake rear window) and a fintail Mercedes right from the gre y VW.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > KnowsAboutCars 01/20/2020 at 22:04

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Your username is indeed accurate. Thanks