J.W. Burleson photo / Boquillas del Carmen, Coah.

PHB

My photo
Brooklin, Maine, United States
We own a 1975 GMC Sierra Grande 15 in Maine and a 1986 Chevrolet Custom Deluxe 10 in West Texas. Also a pair of 1997 Volvo 850 wagons. Average age in the fleet is 28 years--we're recycling. I've published 3 novels: THE LAW OF DREAMS (2006), THE O'BRIENS (2012), and CARRY ME (2016). Also 2 short story collections: NIGHT DRIVING(1987) and TRAVELLING LIGHT (2013). More of my literary life is at www.peterbehrens.org I was a Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study for 2012-13. I'm an adjunct professor at Colorado College and in the MFA program at Queens University of Charlotte. In 2015-16 I was a Fellow at Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. The Autoliterate office is in Car Talk Plaza in Harvard Square, 2 floors above Dewey Cheatem & Howe. SUBSCRIBE TO THE AUTOLITERATE DAILY EMAIL by hitting the button to the right.

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

1967 Ford Country Sedan



Reid Cunningham caught the car in Franklin NH "This is someone's daily driver, I see it every day in different places on the street. Unrestored but decent condition, I am hoping it's slated for an eventual restoration, it's too nice to just run into the ground." 
One of these was up for auction a while back at BaT
If you try ranch wagon or country sedan or country squire in the AL search widget you'll find a bunch  of Ford longroofs.

Monday, June 29, 2020

Van Nuys cruising 1972

Rick McCloskey photo. Van Nuys Blvd., the Valley, LA 1972.

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Morris Minor 1000


We posted this car as a work-in-progress on the Naskeag Road several years ago. And Becky Smith caught a Morris estate in London a while back. Matt Dallett spotted one across the bay in Northeast Harbor. And how about the van version?








Friday, June 26, 2020

Series II Land Rover, NH


from Reid Cunningham, on the road:
"Awaiting some work at a Boscawen, New Hampshire garage is this Series II or IIa Land Rover (1958-71). I had some help identifying it because the repair manual for a II and IIa was on the seat, probably to help the mechanic. It's still a working truck, there was a town transfer station sticker on the window. A three across front seat and facing jump seats means you could jam 7 inside under conditions very much the opposite of social distancing.
"I had the pleasure of driving a Defender for 4 years when work took us to the UK. Those vents at the bottom of the front window screen are brilliant, they let in lots of air even at modest speeds. It was slow, ungainly, rough riding and totally enjoyable every moment of driving. The Defender was supposed to be a big improvement suspension-wise over the Series Rovers. I suspect with its more crude ride, this would be an even more enjoyable experience."
AL: our favorite LR, Grizzly Torque, posted a while back.

Thursday, June 25, 2020

1977 Ford F150


Jonathan Welsh caught the truck in NJ: "I love the setting, though it makes this sharp pickup look a bit like a pampered suburbanite. The dog and I have been lucky car spotters on recent walks."

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

66 Impala


Rick McCloskey photo. Cruise scene in The Valley, 1972. Van Nuys Blvd., LA.
I remember the Saturday night scene on State Street in Santa Barbara, until PD shut it down sometime early 1990s. Must find some photographs! Will report.

Monday, June 22, 2020

1982 Chevrolet C10



from Michael Moore in northern Nevada: "Around and about Wall Spring and Parker Ranch, 1982 C-10 converted to fourwheel drive [before my time] with 1988 350 V-8 as of 1998. Never leaves the property but keeps on working."



Sunday, June 21, 2020

1973 Cadillac Eldorado

From Reid Cunningham: "Saw this in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh. A 1973 Eldorado with a bit of a custom grill. Don't know if that was dealer item to add some pizzazz (the word we would have used before bling?), or a trip through a 1973 J.C. Whitney catalog (I miss the J.C. Whitney catalog, it was a dream factory of repair, performance improvements and appearance upgrades for whatever ride you owned or wanted to own)."
AL posted a '76 Eldorado in Maine. Summah car.
Then there is the iconic '59 Eldorado.

Saturday, June 20, 2020

1952 Chevrolet 3100 Advanced Design 5Window

from Alex Emond, in Saskatchewan: "Here's a truck of many windows . Beautifully restored and , with a trailer hitched and a big riding mower on the trailer , it's not too precious to put to work . This style of Chev could easily be re-released to the public . It would sell like hot cakes . Of course , it would have to be "super-sized" for today's humans . It's a great looking truc . This I saw in Swift Current . Cheers, Alex"

Friday, June 19, 2020

1967 Ford Mustang

Rick McCloskey photo. The scene, Van Nuys Blvd., LA, 1972.

Thursday, June 18, 2020

1972 Chevrolet K20


From Reid Cunningham: "Manchester NH, in a parking lot for a commercial business, someone's ride to work. I like the engine tag, both number of cylinders and displacement."

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Vintage Vinyl Purrster

1965 Lincoln Continental. The car for you? Wide as a '59 Pontiac. AL posted an earlier version in Cambridge, a while back. This era of Lincolns had seek Italianesque style, kind of  deliberate statement of euro-sophistication vs the Cadillacs of the late 50s, early 60s. The Linc was on the block at BaT


Tuesday, June 16, 2020

1986 Chevrolet C30

from Reid Cunninghham: "Franklin NH, guessing mid 80's based on the interior. Antique plates but still being used for some work. The body is really sharp, it's unlikely this has been in New Hampshire all its life. Just a good honest work truck."

Friday, June 12, 2020

African Americans and the Road Trip



2020 Is the Summer of the Road Trip. Unless You’re Black

Piece in the NYT today on the challenges African American travelers continue to face whenever they hit that  (not so) good old American road.

1964 Chevrolet C10, Down Under.

They like 'em low in Oz. 


Thursday, June 11, 2020

1987 Volvo 240 DL Tank


It looks like a low-mileage clean machine. Your basic auto tank. Show the car some respect, and drive it forever. Goes on the block today at BaT
AL has posted a bunch of Swedish meatballs, from the P-210 of Portland (Maine) to the green 440 of Groningen. And several Volvos-in-progress at Alan's Auto in Portland.

1965 Chevrolet C10

 Nice truck, sold for too much money on BaT


Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Sunbeam Alpine


from Jonathan Welsh: "Back in Montclair, N.J., this week and came across a lovely Alpine from the final 1965-68 series with the "big" 1725cc engine. Earlier models had smaller mills, bigger tailfins.
British boutique carmaker Rootes Group built just over 69,000 Alpines from '59 to '68. Carroll Shelby of Cobra fame helped develop a souped-up version with a Ford 260 V8, called the Tiger."
AL: Eva H.D. caught an Alpine a while back in Berkeley.
AL: Tiger on the block right now at BaT