Celest
I am trying to create a scene about the peak of drive-in theaters, roughly 1950-1960 but I am not very familiar with vintage cars, especially realistically what people would drive at that time. Could anyone suggest what type of cars could be found at a drive-in theaters in the US during this period, I'd really appreciate the help! Thanks!
Thanks for the help so far, and I really appreciate the tip of choosing cars with a 5 year span max due to limited lifespan, definitely something I didn't know!
Answer
Pretty much any of the common American makes sold during the time frame. Keep in mind that cars did not last as nearly as long as they do now. It was a big event for any car to reach 100,000 miles during this time as it didn't happen very often. They also did not drive them as much. It wan's all that uncommon for a car to be ready for the junkyard in about 5 years. Especially in the north where they rusted out badly.
You would see few pickup trucks at a drive in. This is because trucks were actually considered work vehicles back in these days. They were used mostly on farms and in construction and were not used all that much for pleasure.
Today, when you see 50's and 60's cars, you mostly see 2 door sedans and convertibles. But this isn't because they made a lot of these. It is because these were the cars worth salvaging and restoring. Most people drove 4 door sedans. If they had a larger family they may have had a station wagon. Most cars of the day had few options. Things we consider standard equipment were considered luxury options back in the 50's and 60's. About the only option most cars of this era had was an AM radio, which was an option.
Some of the makes from the 50's and 60's are still around. But there are some that either completely quit making cars or were bought out by the larger companies.
Makes from the 50's and 60's that you no longer see.
Rambler
Desoto
Hudson
Nash
Packard
Mercury
Oldsmobile
Pontiac
Plymouth
Studebaker
Edsel
The Packard would have been a little less common as it was more of a luxury make
The Edsel was also uncommon as it was an unpopular division of Ford.
Foreign cars were uncommon. Most were smaller than what the typical American wanted. Also, most foreign cars were considered inferior. Also, during the 50's and 60's many of the people who were buying the cars were either World War 2 veterans or family of these veterans. They still remembered the war and would never own a car built in Japan or Germany.
Pretty much any of the common American makes sold during the time frame. Keep in mind that cars did not last as nearly as long as they do now. It was a big event for any car to reach 100,000 miles during this time as it didn't happen very often. They also did not drive them as much. It wan's all that uncommon for a car to be ready for the junkyard in about 5 years. Especially in the north where they rusted out badly.
You would see few pickup trucks at a drive in. This is because trucks were actually considered work vehicles back in these days. They were used mostly on farms and in construction and were not used all that much for pleasure.
Today, when you see 50's and 60's cars, you mostly see 2 door sedans and convertibles. But this isn't because they made a lot of these. It is because these were the cars worth salvaging and restoring. Most people drove 4 door sedans. If they had a larger family they may have had a station wagon. Most cars of the day had few options. Things we consider standard equipment were considered luxury options back in the 50's and 60's. About the only option most cars of this era had was an AM radio, which was an option.
Some of the makes from the 50's and 60's are still around. But there are some that either completely quit making cars or were bought out by the larger companies.
Makes from the 50's and 60's that you no longer see.
Rambler
Desoto
Hudson
Nash
Packard
Mercury
Oldsmobile
Pontiac
Plymouth
Studebaker
Edsel
The Packard would have been a little less common as it was more of a luxury make
The Edsel was also uncommon as it was an unpopular division of Ford.
Foreign cars were uncommon. Most were smaller than what the typical American wanted. Also, most foreign cars were considered inferior. Also, during the 50's and 60's many of the people who were buying the cars were either World War 2 veterans or family of these veterans. They still remembered the war and would never own a car built in Japan or Germany.
what is the best car for me to restore?
devencolli
im 17 and i have lots of time but little money. i want a old car that will challenge me but will pay off in the end. i would like it to stay as cheap as possible.
do u have any car in mind?
post links if u find something. i live in houston, Texas
Answer
If you want to restore something for as little money as possible, you might actually be better off buying an older vehicle that's already decent, as it's far cheaper than a true restoration process.
In a real restoration, nearly every single part of the car has to be replaced or at the very least remachined to take out any defects. Body panels have to be repainted, the entire electric system has to be rewired, the lights and housings have to be replaced, the motor has to be remachined and much of it replaced with new parts. In general, a restoration by a reputable company will cost at least $20,000 plus the original car, taxes, shipping, and other variables. To do it yourself will save money on labor, but the parts will cost more and it will take much longer to complete the restoration.
The best advice, should you want to still do a restoration, is to start with a very common car. Parts will be much cheaper and easier to find. The car itself will be cheaper to buy. Labor will be easier because the car will be covered in older repair books like Chilton's Repair Manual. The downside is, the more common the car, the less it will be worth after restoration and it won't be quite as unique. You can keep some uniqueness in your choice of paint colors, wheels, and factory addon parts that you may add or subtract from the original.
With that in mind, the cheapest restoration project possible are the more common cars from the 1950s to the 1970s. Have a look for one of these models:
Chevrolet Bel Aire
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Corvaire
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet El Camino
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet K-Blazer
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Dodge Charger
Dodge Dart
Ford Bronco
Ford Maverick
Ford Mustang
Ford Thunderbird
International Scout
Jeep CJ-Series (CJ-5 and CJ-7 are most common, but there also CJ-2, CJ-3, CJ-6, CJ-8, and CJ-10)
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Plymouth Fury
Plymouth Satellite
Pontiac GTO
Pontiac Tempest
Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Microbus
Any fullsize pickup or van (Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, International) is also an easy restoration project as parts for these are widely stocked around the country to repair vehicles used on farms, ranches, reservations, parks, cities, and other places you see trucks a lot. Also, these vehicles are far more simply constructed and easier to work on than cars because the designers knew they would be abused and wanted them to be easy to repair to get them back on the job as quick as possible.
You want to avoid any foreign cars (except Volkswagens) and any luxury cars (Cadillac, Lincoln, Packard, etc.). Foreign car parts are incredibly expensive and hard to find. You often have to order them from overseas, and can be duped in doing so by being sent the wrong part or no part at all. Luxury cars use similarly hard-to-find and expensive parts that weren't used on more basic models to make them special, including parts for air suspensions, electronic equipment, swiveling seats, power roofs, and other unnecessarys.
When looking for a vehicle, your best bet would be a junkyard. Ask them for a runner, a car that still runs and drives, or one with a good body but a blown motor. Don't buy one that's been in an accident. Also, keep your eyes peeled for one sitting for sale on the side of the road. These are often far cheaper than the ones you'll find online and in magazines.
I hope this has answered your question. If you have any more, please feel free to ask.
If you want to restore something for as little money as possible, you might actually be better off buying an older vehicle that's already decent, as it's far cheaper than a true restoration process.
In a real restoration, nearly every single part of the car has to be replaced or at the very least remachined to take out any defects. Body panels have to be repainted, the entire electric system has to be rewired, the lights and housings have to be replaced, the motor has to be remachined and much of it replaced with new parts. In general, a restoration by a reputable company will cost at least $20,000 plus the original car, taxes, shipping, and other variables. To do it yourself will save money on labor, but the parts will cost more and it will take much longer to complete the restoration.
The best advice, should you want to still do a restoration, is to start with a very common car. Parts will be much cheaper and easier to find. The car itself will be cheaper to buy. Labor will be easier because the car will be covered in older repair books like Chilton's Repair Manual. The downside is, the more common the car, the less it will be worth after restoration and it won't be quite as unique. You can keep some uniqueness in your choice of paint colors, wheels, and factory addon parts that you may add or subtract from the original.
With that in mind, the cheapest restoration project possible are the more common cars from the 1950s to the 1970s. Have a look for one of these models:
Chevrolet Bel Aire
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Corvaire
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet El Camino
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet K-Blazer
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Dodge Charger
Dodge Dart
Ford Bronco
Ford Maverick
Ford Mustang
Ford Thunderbird
International Scout
Jeep CJ-Series (CJ-5 and CJ-7 are most common, but there also CJ-2, CJ-3, CJ-6, CJ-8, and CJ-10)
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Plymouth Fury
Plymouth Satellite
Pontiac GTO
Pontiac Tempest
Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Microbus
Any fullsize pickup or van (Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, International) is also an easy restoration project as parts for these are widely stocked around the country to repair vehicles used on farms, ranches, reservations, parks, cities, and other places you see trucks a lot. Also, these vehicles are far more simply constructed and easier to work on than cars because the designers knew they would be abused and wanted them to be easy to repair to get them back on the job as quick as possible.
You want to avoid any foreign cars (except Volkswagens) and any luxury cars (Cadillac, Lincoln, Packard, etc.). Foreign car parts are incredibly expensive and hard to find. You often have to order them from overseas, and can be duped in doing so by being sent the wrong part or no part at all. Luxury cars use similarly hard-to-find and expensive parts that weren't used on more basic models to make them special, including parts for air suspensions, electronic equipment, swiveling seats, power roofs, and other unnecessarys.
When looking for a vehicle, your best bet would be a junkyard. Ask them for a runner, a car that still runs and drives, or one with a good body but a blown motor. Don't buy one that's been in an accident. Also, keep your eyes peeled for one sitting for sale on the side of the road. These are often far cheaper than the ones you'll find online and in magazines.
I hope this has answered your question. If you have any more, please feel free to ask.
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