The 1950s American Car And Road Trip In Kodachrome

A great set of Kodachrome slides from when Americans in American-made cars explored the country

“The American really loves nothing but his automobile: not his wife his child nor his country nor even his bank-account first… but his motor-car. Because the automobile has become our national sex symbol. ”
― William Faulkner, Intruder in the Dust

 

Hollywood! 1956 A couple of hip chicks from Illinois strike a pose behind the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and Grauman's Theater on N. Orange. The mint green 1955 Chevy 210 4-door sedan sets off the girls' red and blue slacks, and you almost miss the zig-zag alteration on miss blue-pants. She looks like trouble...

Hollywood! 1956 – A couple of hip chicks from Illinois strike a pose behind the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and Grauman’s Theater on N. Orange. The mint green 1955 Chevy 210 4-door sedan.

Ice Fishing – Early 1950s Somewhere in cold Michigan's thumb

Ice Fishing – Early 1950s
Somewhere in cold Michigan’s thumb

Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans – 1958

Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans – 1958

Canoe Run – 1951 This 1943 (?) Pontiac Coupe really IS bigger than a boat. Cool two-tone and fenders into doors on this Detriot monster.

Canoe Run – 1951
This 1943 (?) Pontiac Coupe really IS bigger than a boat. Cool two-tone and fenders into doors on this Detriot monster.

Southeast Vacation — 1956

Southeast Vacation — 1956

Dairy Creme, Oklahoma – 1956

Dairy Creme, Oklahoma – 1956

RCA Building Times Square, NYC – 1953

RCA Building Times Square, NYC – 1953

Joshua Tree — 1947

Joshua Tree — 1947 (not 1950s but I love this photo)

Bandshell, Sanford, FL – Early 50s Bandshell on Lake Monroe (St. John's River) in Sanford, Florida. Submarine Chaser SC679 sits ready.

Bandshell, Sanford, FL – Early 50s
Bandshell on Lake Monroe (St. John’s River) in Sanford, Florida. Submarine Chaser SC679 sits ready.

Thunderbirds Are GO! 1958

GO! 1958

Teepee Drive-in / Buffalo Burgers

Teepee Drive-in / Buffalo Burgers

Grand View Ship Hotel — 1953

Grand View Ship Hotel — 1953

Thanksgiving blizzard 1950 - Xenia, Ohio

Thanksgiving blizzard 1950 – Xenia, Ohio

Moccasins, Indian Rugs, Jewelry, Curios - early 1950s

Moccasins, Indian Rugs, Jewellery, Curios – early 1950s

The Smiling Irishman, Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA - 1952

The Smiling Irishman, Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA – 1952

Logan, WV - 1950

Logan, WV – 1950

Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii, 1967 A cream 1955 Chevy Bel Air with surfboards in tow is braking as it crosses Lewers St. on a green arrow. The Ala Moana Building's "Top of Waikiki" rotating restaurant can be seen above and behind the distinctive Bank of Hawaii / Galleria tower.

Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii, 1967
A cream 1955 Chevy Bel Air with surfboards in tow is braking as it crosses Lewers St. on a green arrow. The Ala Moana Building’s “Top of Waikiki” rotating restaurant can be seen above and behind the distinctive Bank of Hawaii / Galleria tower.

1952 Buick Super — Clearwater, FL Period photo taken in front of a Cracker frame home somewhere in Clearwater.

1952 Buick Super — Clearwater, FL
Period photo taken in front of a Cracker frame home somewhere in Clearwater.

Steven Steven begrudgingly poses with his chick magnet, a Nash Metropolitan. (A Series III with air scoops?)

Steven begrudgingly poses with his chick magnet, a Nash Metropolitan. (A Series III with air scoops?)

Bulletproof Whitewalls — 1958 Oldsmobile Somewhere near Niagara Falls.

Bulletproof Whitewalls — 1958 Oldsmobile
Somewhere near Niagara Falls.

Vinny and Rocco Find Another Racket — 1951

1951

Town Hill Hotel — 1948 Little Orleans, MD. Love the mood here. From Town Hill Mt., you can see three states!

Town Hill Hotel — 1948 (as above)
Little Orleans, MD. Love the mood here. From Town Hill Mt., you can see three states!

1954 Mercury Monterrey Photo taken in 1955

1954 Mercury Monterrey
Photo taken in 1955

1951 Ford Crestline

1951 Ford Crestline

Cadillac in D.C. — 1950s Marilyn Monroe look-alike and husband strike an all-American pose with the new car, a 1952 Cadillac convertible in rich burgundy with natural interior.

Cadillac in D.C. — 1950s
Marilyn Monroe look-alike and husband strike an all-American pose with the new car, a 1952 Cadillac convertible in rich burgundy with natural interior.

Afternoon Sun on the Chevy — 1950

Afternoon Sun on the Chevy — 1950

Ft. Wayne, IN – 1955

Ft. Wayne, IN – 1955

Ice Fishing from the '46 Chrysler New Yorker Somewhere in Michigan's thumb district around 1955.

Ice Fishing from the ’46 Chrysler New Yorker
Somewhere in Michigan’s thumb district around 1955.

Mom and her '55 Ford Fairlane Sunliner, 1956 In honor of Mother's Day, here's one from from our own closet of Mom in Ft. Lauderdale (pre-me) with her '55 Sunliner.

Mom and her ’55 Ford Fairlane Sunliner, 1956
In honor of Mother’s Day, here’s one from from our own closet of Mom in Ft. Lauderdale (pre-me) with her ’55 Sunliner.

Parade, Rhinelander, WI – 1956 Note the 1955 Nash Statesman.

Parade, Rhinelander, WI – 1956
Note the 1955 Nash Statesman.

Ft. Wayne, IN – 1955

Ft. Wayne, IN – 1955

Photos and captions via ElektroSpark

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