More Carspotting in THE PAST!

"Jim Spanfeller" (awesomeaustinv) 01/27/2020 at 20:40 • Filed to: None

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I have access to a bunch of really old National Geographic magazines which are destined to be cut up for art purposes. Sometimes I like to go through them and save things that I find interesting, such as old car advertisements or images containing interesting vehicles. Here is one of my favorites:

The yellow convertible near the bottom left is a ‘57 Ford, and there’s a 1950something Mercury behind it. What cars can you spot?

fintail > Jim Spanfeller 01/27/2020 at 20:53

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Looks like a Lincoln Cosmopolitan behind the black Mercury.

Funny thing, when I was a kid I’d cut up old National Geographics and make money from it. My parents were hobbyist antique dealers, and had a booth in an antique mall. I learned people liked ads, so I would buy volumes of the magazines, and cut out the ads - Coke ads and car ads.  I’d bundle them in lots of 10 for $10-15, and they’d sell as fast as I could put them out.

Jim Spanfeller > fintail 01/27/2020 at 21:19

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I have wondered if my collection is worth something... I guess to the right people, they are. I actually got mine for free, so I guess that’s cool. Interesting story!

fintail > Jim Spanfeller 01/27/2020 at 21:23

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I think some early NGs can have value, especially pre-1910 or so. Later ones, especially postwar, don’t have a ton of value as everyone subscribed back in the day, and the magazines were so nice, everyone kept them.

This was 25+ years ago, but when I bought them at sales, I’d try to keep my cost at a quarter apiece or less - sometimes people would almost give them away.  Although the content and photography are excellent, the value in the ads.  Great car ads, and people love Coke ads.

ranwhenparked > Jim Spanfeller 01/27/2020 at 21:23

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The black fastback poking out on the left appears to be a ‘49 or ‘50 Oldsmobile.