A lovely lass of Gaelic heritage who definitely would turn heads in a New York Second*. * (New York Second - that infinitesimal period of time between the traffic light turning Green and the Cabbie behind you blaring his horn.)
That's the ones! Top down, sun shining, hair blowing in the wind... That's the way to take a drive! I just couldn't to the hair-blowing bit, owing to a shortage of hair...
A buddy here has a restored and hot-rodded Ghia convertible. It is cheddar cheese yellow and is a RUSH to scoot around in! He is a bug-nut as well as train nut, and also has a few bugs and a hippy bus, several of which have been in VW magazines. FUN! Candy - Yup, them are the right shades!
I could never get excited about riding in a top down. Always needed to take a shower afterward, to get rid of the road grime.
Top downs are fun ! My hair blowing about my head and my summer dress billowing around my knees. A sense of freedom.
I just remember the bad sun burns I got when riding with my dad with the top down in his Sunbeam. That is my down hill racer that I cobbled together in the foreground.
Oh Yes, I well remember the Tiger-II, a co-worker had one. He had to crawl into the driver's and passenger's foot-wells to change #4 and #8 spark plugs through 4" diameter access holes....not fun, even for a flexible 20-30 year old. We called it his "Cute Li'l Sunbeam Toaster."
I remember when folks were stuffing V-8 engines in some of these types of small sports cars. I also recall some nasty wind burns, from riding in a few topless cars...
Ragtops are a BLAST!! I only owned one ever- a '61 Ford. It was so much fun to cruise in it didn't matter that it was totally ratty. That little Sunbeam on the other hand- powered by a 289- would be an absolute screamer even if it was a total pain to put plugs in. Gotta love it!
Big old Galaxie 500 with a 352 V8. Back when a full size car could be something besides stodgy if given half a chance and a pair of glasspacks.....
Yep. That's it. Couldn't remember if Ford was still using the Sunliner badge on them then or not, but apparently so. Looks like the perfect accessory to go with your crinoline and oversize sunglasses. My '61 didn't look nearly as nice as that one, but the memories are good.