Note: to view the pictures of the cars in a larger format, click on each or go directly to the blog website.
Several years ago on a day trip to Fredericksburg, Texas, I noticed a '50s era car under a canopy at the Chrysler dealer, Crenwelge Motors. I stopped and started looking around and found a trove of junked-out cars nearby in the back lot of the dealership. It looked like they just drove (or hauled) them back there and parked them, probably for parts.
They were mostly Chrysler products from the 1930s through the early 1960s. Weeds and vines had grown up all over, submerging them in a green jungle.
Even when new, most of these cars were not all that good looking, especially compared to some of competitor's products of the time. Now, with broken windows, rust and missing parts, the images are a bit sad with one exception. The 1956 Imperial was one of the best looking cars of the age, and there was one there, sitting in regal decadence beneath a tree.
If you are interested in Imperials there are many pictured at the Imperial Club website.
Click on the thumbnails below to see larger pictures or a slide show. I also posted the same ones in color here.
As I mentioned in Part I, there has been a family connection to Chrysler products. My dad's father owned a 1923 Dodge, 1930 Chrysler, a 1936 Plymouth, and a 1937 Dodge, among several others. He also owned to other makes including a 1926 Studebaker and a 1948 Fraser. Identification of the oldest car I found on the lot in Fredericksburg was not difficult: it was almost like Grandpa's '36 Plymouth, right.
On the other side, my mom's family owned just a few cars, all GM products, from the the 1926 Chevrolet left to a 1953 Chevrolet Bel-Aire two-door hardtop.
The car lot in Fredericksburg was still there in 2012, but gone later.
Click here for color versions of the cars.
