That is a gorgeous car. I know nothing about them - what kind of Chevy is it? Looks 30s.

Beautiful cars. I am a car nut and can admire machinery that I normally wouldn't drive - but for its beauty in design.

Heck I can admire a a Peterbilt- that is designed to go back and forth across the country - hauling 40,000 lbs - with the ease that a normal vehicle goes across the town - trouble free- for 100s of thousands of miles.

Anyway I am a sports car nut. Primarily German machinery, but all kinds. I believe that cars - at least before the massive globalization of the car industry - where Jags under the skin are now Fords - anyway in the past different marques reflected the stereotypes of the people of their respective countries. .

Ferraris are beautiful to listen to - drive - but oh-so-temperamental - and expensive to service.

British cars had soul - fun to drive but those Lucas jokes were based in some fact (as all good humor). Sample: "Why do the British drink warm beer? Answer: Because they use Lucas refrigerators.

Anywho, a few years ago I am driving my car and spot on the driveway a Hispanic guy just backing out in his pristine 64 Chevy.

And for a moment car-nut to car-nut connected. He saw me glaring at his wheels - I made a knowing grin - and he smiled back in acknowledgment.

Anyway nice story Robert...

Robert,
I love how you framed the photo in red - it just makes the image zing :) That car is just insanely beautiful....just seems incongruous with the gangster lifestyle, but then again, why shouldn't a person, who I suppose just 'happens' to be in a gang, have 'higher' interests? You were brave to take the photo, but was it any scarier than interviewing the female inmates in prison?

Have a good Shabbos!

Rachel :)

So you & Karen are grandparents ?

How many & boys or girls ?

I have a 6 yo gs who calls me Nana.

If only the same care and love for the car were invested into education and community.

Nice shots--of the car that is.

Hmmm... a memorial service at the L.A. Gun Club. What would the motto of that service at that locale be? "Practice makes perfect" perhaps?

Fabulous pics, Robert. And a gorgeous vehicle, adorned with TLC...no doubt misplaced TLC.

Hmm...is Pearl feeling cynical?

Sooth Sayer - amen!

Robert,
Good post. I also was intrigued by the L.A. Gun Club, and so I looked them up on the web. On a remote part of their web page, they explained: "We shall be forced to close from June 28 to July 4 and December 25 to January 1 because ammunition cannot be sold in the city of Los Angeles on those dates.
Normal operations will resume on July 5 and January 2." Question: Why the heck can't you buy ammo in L.A. on those dates???

The work and attention to detail is one thing I miss about SoCal, along with the speed shops. Man, if I could get my T-Bird looking that good.

Robert, only black pearl cars? Any cars with Von Dutch style pinstriping?

To David P, The black out dates on buying ammunition is the Liberal LA City Council trying to blunt the residents use of guns to celebrate holidays. What a pack of idiots you have running LA. When is the next riot?

Jennifer:

I have no idea what model car it is. I just admired its industrial beauty.

Bill:

Good story. Thanks so much.

Rachel:

I'm not sure if I was brave or just foolhardy. In both cases.

Jackie W:

We have one granddaughter, Ma'ayan Ariel. She's almost two-years old and a complete joy.

Sooth Sayer:

The state of California spends a great deal of money on the massive state education system. Predictably, such a huge bureaucracy is completely inefficient. The teachers union is an out of control monster that is nothing more than a subsidiary of the Democrat party.

Charter schools would help a great deal, but the unions and the Democrats oppose such freedom of choice at every turn. Consequently black and Hispanics pay a massive social price.

Pearl:

I'm not sure they were having the memorial in the parking lot. I think they were using that as a meeting place. Still, it is, ah, weird.

Or not.

PCD:

There were other cars and I will publish the photos at a later date.

Beautiful photographs and stunning cars.

They look late 1940s - very early 50s to me.

I've just started "Driving Like Crazy" by P.J. O'Rourke. I already miss the good, old American cars. That man-who-shall-remain-nameless will be having us all driving go kart-carts before long if he gets his way. Actually, I think he just wants the proletariat to walk everywhere.

1948

It is a 1948 Chevy Fleetline. Here's a low rider version of the car: http://www.1948chevy.com/support/eddies48.htm

Robert,

Believe it or not Mexicans are raised by their grandmothers most of their lives and are taught to be respectful. Be at ease, you were there in the day, you wear glasses and you did not appear threatening because you don't swagger. Also its one of those unspoken things about California's many subcultures but there are a number of mexican Jews who were raised Christian yet are Jewish, but I cannot explain to you how to look and find them.