Time to Scoop the Loop with #DavesCarIDService 
*Image is from the newly released book "Van Nuys Boulevard 1972," a collection of Rick McCloskey's amazing photos from the golden age of car cruising in the San Fernando Valley. Highly recommended, even if you're not into cars.
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**Car here is a Windsor White 1967 Ford Mustang GT, wearing the then-au courant Keystone Klassic mag wheels. The Bullitt Mustang was a Dark Highland Green 1968 Mustang GT, with decal delete and American Racing cast spoke mags.
***"Scoop the Loop" was the phrase in Sioux City IA; you may have used "dragging Main," or something different in your locality.
****The car cruising phenomenon began in the 1930s/40s in East LA, particularly Whittier Boulevard. It was sort of an evolution of the traditional Mexican "paseo," a courting ritual where young people stroll around the village square in search of a sweetheart.
Without further adieu, let's get to some car IDs, and focus on the early evolution of Ford. First up, a terrific shot of a young Iowan with his pets atop a 1917-22 Ford Model T center door sedan (indicated by circular rear window)
The T was a huge seller due to low price and durability, but was largely unchanged from 1917-27 with Henry Ford's "any color as long as it's black" philosophy, and seen as frumpy by car buyers. That changed with the Model A, like this 1928-29 coupe.
After the T, Ford styling was largely directed by Henry's much more artistic son Edsel, who produced some beautiful designs. After the A came the early V8 Fords - the 1932 Model 18, and then the 1933-34 Model 40. Here's a 1933-34 Ford 5 window coupe.
The new flathead V8 of 1932 was a huge leap for Ford, making speed and power available at a low price. The 32 "Deuce" is still revered as the ultimate hot rod raw material. The V8 Ford also enabled Bonnie & Clyde to elude the law, as Clyde explained to Henry Ford.
After the Model 40 came the next gen of Ford, the 1935-36 Model 48. Here is a 1936 Ford roadster; this is Ford's last model year making a true roadster (2 seat, detachable windshield, no roll up side windows).
After the 1936 Model 48 came the Model 74 (60 hp) and Model 78 (85 hp) Fords of 1937. Visually the big change for 1937 was the swoopy deco design featuring headlights sunk into fenders. Here a mildly customized 37 Ford Deluxe coupe.
In 1938 came the Models 81A & 82A, and the 1939 Models 91A & 92A. In 1940 Ford dispensed with model letter/numbers. The 1940 Ford (like this Standard coupe) is the apotheosis of Ford's fat fender prewar design.
In contrast to the 1940 Ford Standard, here's a 1940 Ford Deluxe coupe. Note the more ornate grille shape. From 38-40 Ford had a bit of Deluxe->Standard carryover; The Standard model looks a lot like the Deluxe model from previous year.
For my money the prettiest of all the prewar fat fender Fords is the 1939 Deluxe, like my friend's customized convertible. Same grille as 40 Standard, but with flush headlights.
OK, I don't want to turn this whole thread into a lecture on prewar Fords, as there are other IDs awaiting. So let me stop this train of thought with an unfortunate 1940 Ford Tudor sedan.
Forget your chic school dropoff Land Rover, this soccer mom is not messing around with her war surplus 1941-42 Dodge WC Carryall.
Your lovely mom's royal coronation coach was a 1962 Mercury Monterey convertible.
Another lovely mom, looking very Mid 60s Mod with her Audrey Hepburn-ish fuzzy hat, in front of a first year 1965 Ford Mustang.
I now feel inspired to catch up to my backlog of Ancestral Girls On Cars, like this lovely Iowa grandma looking like a Film Noir femme fatale on the running board of a 1940 Chevy.
What's to be mortified about? Mom is looking like garage poster material with this 1927 Ford Model T RPU.
Miniskirt Mom looks like a fun date to go cruising in a 1968 Dodge Charger Super Bee (as indicated by side scoops). Gotta tag my pal @chriselise who has a 1969.
A little farm yard leg show courtesy Auntie, atop a 1933 Pontiac convertible.
Amish hot rod pinups, who knew? Mom-in-law was off to enjoy her Rumspringa in a 1928-29 Ford Model A roadster.
From across the pond, Grandma was a Dutch Treat in what I think is a 1925-27 Chrysler roadster with export right hand drive. US cars were fairly common in 20s-30s Europe. Via Google I've learned that Buziau was quite a celebrity in Holland at the time.
Coed shutterbug Mom would stop at nothing to get the right camera shot, including crawling atop a 1949-50 Cadillac.
Not much to go on here, but I believe car is a 1955-57 Chevy 150 or 210 2 door sedan. And may I say Mom is looking like a young wildcat Elizabeth Taylor type here.
That'll have to do for today's episode. Thanks again for sharing your family archives of cars and girls, it's what I live for.
Take it away, Handsome Dick Manitoba & the Dictators...
Take it away, Handsome Dick Manitoba & the Dictators...
