Oh, Those Beautiful Classics - Crestline, CA

After posting about the museum of old trucks a month ago, I felt that coming across one or the other classic car did not justify writing a post. It would be completely anticlimatic! But then, as I kept seeing another, and yet another beautiful oldie on my regular walks around the town of Crestline, I thought: why not? So instead of cursing myself for not having photographed all of them from the beginning, I started taking pictures whenever I could. These are a few results.

California, a Jurassic Park for Automobiles

It's nothing new that Californians tend to love their cars, that there is a strong preference for the extravagant, which often means old, and that the local climate here helps keeping them from being eaten up by rust. Also, this town, located high up in the mountains, while in reasonable proximity to Los Angeles, has a good portion of well-to-do inhabitants, who like to indulge in their passion for classic cars.

My own personal favorites are grand sedans from the 40's and 50's, though in that era even a two-door coupe looked like a battle ship.

These two finds fit this description perfectly, especially the black one.

What is that, a rocket launcher attached to its side? I would bet it didn't come like that from the factory!

The other one has a particularly cool color scheme. Have you noticed how nowadays cars are less colorful? Certain colors, like these two green tones, seem to have vanished entirely.

Honestly, if I was given a choice, I don't know which one of these two cars I would accept.

Too Old to Drive? Just Leave It as Yard Deco.

Some of these cars go back to more than a century, and you may rightfully think they are way beyond being driven anywhere anymore (... though at a closer look you may have to second guess even that). Others appear to be surprisingly fit for their old age. These two seem to be both from around the same time. Maybe the 1930's?

This truck with its solid rubber tires and crank starter looks like it hasn't been on the road for a while.

The other one seems to have been completely overhauled, obviously with 4x4 capabilities, and an apparently valid license plate. I have no doubt that it can tackle steep dirt roads without a problem, and get a good amount of curious looks when breezing through town.

Ugly Cars With Lots of Potential

Not all old timers in Crestline are treated so fitting for their age and appearance. Some look like more or less abandoned, even if they're parked properly in front of someone's house. This panel van, I'm guessing from the 60's, has such lovely shapes, it would look super slick being polished up nicely... Oh well, there may be some hope for it in the future.

And then there is this old Citroen standing around, exposed to the elements, for what appears to be years. Do Americans even have cars like this? Clearly they do, even though you don't see them rolling around on the highways. California also has pretty strict emission laws, so it might be unreasonable to expect such a clunker to pass the test. Still, one may be allowed to hope, which is what the owner might be doing, while holding on to this car for a bit longer.