'56 Packard Man

This Porsche 550 Spyder was recently seen in the parking lot of a shopping center in the Sacramento, California suburb of Roseville. This 550 is not a trailer queen – it is driven! A few months prior to this spotting, I saw it cruising Interstate 80 near Fairfield which is about 60 miles southwest of Roseville. It is possible that this car is a reproduction 550 as only 90 of the original series were built between 1953 and 1956. If it is a reproduction, it is a very good one. For example, the gauges on the instrument panel are correct.

Actor James Dean bought chassis number 550-055. It was this car that he was killed in when a car pulled out in front on him on a road between California and Las Vegas.

I’ve seen this car twice but have never been able to talk to the owner. Again, allowing for the possibility – probability? – that it is a reproduction, when I heard it on Interstate 80, the engine certainly sounded like that of a Porsche built in the mid-1950s. However, a clue that this may not be an authentic 550 is that it lacks the coach builder badges on the front fenders commonly seen in photos of 550s.

The Porsche 550s were “giant killers” – winning races against far more established and formidable competitors.

My New Car

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Child Safety Harness – 1950s

Classic Photos of Gas Stations from the ’50s & ’60s via Curbside Classic
With a recurring hat tip to “Chris-to-Fear” who originally sent us the link to this.

Small town in Missouri. Note the gravel driveway. The water spigot was probably used frequently. 1955 Buick in the driveway.