Let's go Car Spotting in the Past! PART TWO!

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 01/21/2020 at 13:30 • Filed to: Carspotting, The Traveler's Book of Color Photography by Van Phillips and Owen Thomas, Books, Dots

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Part two! The first can be found !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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. It is unlikely that they renewed the copyright this long out of print, since color photography needs no introduction; I don’t think they would mind me sharing a few partial images online after 50 years has elapsed. Please tell me if you have any information regarding this. Enjoy.

There are many Citroëns outside the Arc de Triomphe on this particular day; 2CVs, HY Vans, Amis, and DSes abound! I have counted seven altogether. This scene would not be as remarkable to its contemporaries, but our modern eyes find it interesting indeed.

This photo taken under a rather large flag (middle, not left) contains some perplexing finds. What is that little red car parked on the right? I can’t identify anything new here, but I’m sure Oppo can. Rallydarkstrike, I’m looking at you!

What is that small van? It seems familiar, as does that cat-eyed silver sedan.

Update: According to Oppo’s own Fintail, “the silver car is a Ford Taunus 17m “Badewanne.” Van could also be a Ford Taunus, or perhaps a Hanomag or similar. The “NM” license plate prefix is for the Bavarian town of Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz.”

(center) A Chevrolet? In Italy? Do you have your money on American Diplomat or visiting Capitalist? Based on the fintail Mercedes and other expensive looking cars, I assume this imposing architecture houses some sort of embassy or government office. Darn those brash Americans and their ostentatious coupes!

Update: Fintail pointed out that the black sedan is a Fiat 2100/2300 and the Volvo behind it is a 444/544. The The place is the central market (Grand-Place) in Brussels.

So, what can you spot in this edition of “Carspotting, in THE PAST!” There really are not many pictures in this book where cars figure prominently, but I can get two more posts out if you would like.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/21/2020 at 13:41

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Cat eyed car is a Ford Taunus 17m “Badewanne”. Van could also be a Ford Taunus, or perhaps a Hanomag or similar. The “NM” license plate prefix is forthe Bavarian town of Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz.

Final pic finned car is not a fintail, rather, a Fiat 2100/2300, I think, beside a Volvo 444/544. That pic is the central market (Grand-Place) in Brussels. American car appears to be a 57 Cadillac if the fins are angled forward.

These photos appear to be from a decade or more before 1972.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/21/2020 at 13:48

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I was in Paris in 1992, I still have my photos. I might have to post them now. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 01/21/2020 at 14:31

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Thank you, I will have to change a few things. The copyright date is 1972, so I imagine quite a few were taken years in advance. 

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/21/2020 at 16:43

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I wonder if it might be a second edition or a rework of something printed in the 60s.  

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 01/21/2020 at 17:16

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I've only seen one edition for sale in eBay (the only source of info I can find) and there is only one copyright date, but these were likely collected over several years, though they claim to be photographers by trade.

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/21/2020 at 17:20

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That could be it, a project.

I used to have a picture book like this of Germany, printed in the 50s, but many of the scenes were obviously prewar.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/21/2020 at 22:00

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First pic - I count 7 Citroens as well! :D

Second pic - Wow, not actually sure what that little red fella is! Cool though! Looks like a white FIAT 500 Giardinera next to it on the left though! :D

Third pic - Cat-eyed car seems to be a second-gen Ford Taunus:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taunus_P3

The van is, conveniently, also a Taunus! Well...a Taunus Transit (Ford’s first use of the ‘Transit’ name on a van - the van was based on the Taunus!)

Fourth pic - cool scene! All sort of awesome cars in that shot! That huge American looks very out of place, haha!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/21/2020 at 22:05

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That’s why I love Oppo; I find out about cars so obscure and wacky (to Americans, at least) that I never would have identified on my own. I never would have known  a 500 wagon existed (competition to that Mini wagon perhaps?).

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/21/2020 at 22:58

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Yup! The Giardiniera even had a different engine to the normal 500 - a laid-flat version!

Autobianchi also had a Bianchina ‘Panoramica’ estate based on the 500 Giardiniera (the whole Bianchina model was based on the 500) that was sold from ‘57-’70! BUT, weirdly enough, after 1970, the ACTUAL FIAT 500 Giardiniera was ALSO sold as the Autobianchi Bianchina Giardiniera all the way until ‘77 when the original 500 ceased production in ‘75 and the Giardiniera ceased being produced as a ‘FIAT 500' in ‘68 !