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Topic starter
25/05/2025 8:05 pm
...it sure looked like it was. It's nice to look back & dream. Photographs such as this always make me long for a time I never knew but can only imagine was glorious. These middle-class folks were quite comfortable in their newer brick homes, w/oversized 1-car garages, and new 1959 cars - this Chevrolet and that Pontiac convertible (across the street ).
25/05/2025 8:37 pm
I like the '59 Chevy ! My Dad had an Impala and his sister a Bel Air or Biscayne. I don't know how different those last two are.
Topic starter
25/05/2025 10:26 pm
I don't know how different those last two are.
In 1959, the Bel Air was sandwiched between the top-of-the-line Impala and the bottom-of-the-line Biscayne.
26/05/2025 6:20 am
1959 Chevrolet models...
Love them all!
John Bono
North Jersey
26/05/2025 8:15 am
Chris while you might not have been there, you summarized things quite well. The fifties were definitely a kinder gentler time in America full of enthusiasm and hope for the future. That mind set was reflected in the new car offerings not only from a style stand point, but also the colors. I was nineteen in 1959 and while we had our day to day problems and challenges, history has a way of minimizing them and perhaps paints a more favorable picture than reality. Either way, I feel I was truly blessed to have grown up in those times. Thanks for the great picture.
Topic starter
26/05/2025 8:22 am
@bob-jackman Thankyou Bob - you reaffirmed my sentiment - It wasn't perfect, but it sure looked like it was.
26/05/2025 8:28 am
@bob-jackman Very well said Bob and I couldn't agree more. Even though I was born in 1952 I have a very clear memory of what you describe; I was aware of that vibe even being that young. I miss it very much today. Being a little car freak even back then, I LOVED the postwar cars and the 50s as they were everywhere. I am amazed at the level of detail recall and anecdotal particulars relative to these cars that are so crystal clear in my mind even today. I have no doubt this is the same for most Forumites as well. Great memories that I cherish.
26/05/2025 9:02 am
Excellent essay Chris, Bob, Jack and Steve. At 78 I'm right in the center of you fellas. In '59 I was barely a pre-teenager - 12 years old. The family had a '58 Buick from new, and step-dad just bought a new '59 Chevy Kingswood station wagon for his electric contracting work.
We had that middle class brick house with nice TV, healthy work ethic and school achievement level. I mowed the yard and delivered papers on my bike. Older sister was married and raising a family and older bro was in the Army.
I went to work with dad in the Kingswood helping on Saturday's. In summer I worked all sorts of jobs and gathered, what I know now, was a good outlook on life as any person can know it back in the late fifties and early upcoming 60's. Life was what you made it and as teens we always managed to stay one jump ahead of any trouble; did the 'right' thing as our moms & dad imagined and taught it to us. We didn't see it then as we lived it, but the time really was a better time than it later became and people were nicer to each other.
And the 'Car Culture' meant so much more than it does today.
Topic starter
26/05/2025 9:24 am
"What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now forever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower?
I We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind...."
...and remember fondly what once was.
26/05/2025 10:06 am
"What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now forever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower?
I We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind...."
...and remember fondly what once was.
Oh, I SO remember that splendor in the grass! Some rememberable times, those. 
26/05/2025 11:47 am
What a great group we have here and I am blessed to be a part of it. For how many years we each have, todays thoughts we share each day will surely be tomorrows memories. The forums offer all of us a touch of our past through our little cars and hopefully brighten every day.
Topic starter
26/05/2025 1:21 pm
"For how many years we each have, today's thoughts we share each day will surely be tomorrow's memories."
Words that ring true and are more poignant than ever, perhaps never more so in my entire life, thanks Bob.
Tony Perrone and John Kuvakas reacted
26/05/2025 2:17 pm
Wow Tony, you said a lot of things with the way I grew up with my family too. Such great memories which will never, ever be forgotten.
Steve
26/05/2025 2:20 pm
Geez, I never thought you were quite a composer Chris... That's pretty heartwarming. I'm going to have to write that down for future reference I found it absolutely beautiful and I'm sure others on our site did also. 👍
Steve
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