Over the course of the last 100 years of the automobile in America, one of the interesting challenges is what to do with the spare tire. Recently, there has been a trend toward shipping cars without spare tires – either the car design just won’t permit a full size tire, or the car is equipped with tires that retain their capability to roll even when you have a flat tire.
I took images yesterday of a 1957 Ford Thunderbird and a 1956 Ford Thunderbird with Continental kits, which provided an attractive and functional way to carry a spare. I love the design and function of the old continental kits.
The hardtop version of the Thunderbird had another distinguishing design characteristic – the porthole window. I got a shot of the 1957 T-Bird porthole .A few years later the porthole resurfaced in the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. I don’t have a picture of the Monte Carlo. Note: The hardtop of the 1057 T-Bird dropped into the trunk of the car – necessitating the Continental Kit for the spare.
One last look at the Big Job truck – this truck is surreal. It has the foreboding look of a Marvel Comic character theme. Something from a science fiction movie. When I saw it and grabbed the shot, the truck was leaving the area, or I would have taken more pictures. To me, this is just stunning.
That’s all for today.
RiverDogs X -Words and Pictures from the River's Edge 