Automobiles – RDZ Photography

Bisbee, Arizona – January 2023 – A Revisit to Lowell

Architecture, Art, History, Transportation

The city of Bisbee is actually made up of the original town, plus a few of the outlying former small towns. One of those just south of the original part of Bisbee is Lowell.

The town was once like most places, with a main street shops and a few neighborhoods. Unfortunately for Lowell the massive copper mine next door wiped out all of the housing leaving only the main street, Erie Avenue.

Rather than completely die, Erie Avenue lives on thanks to a group of people who make up Lowell Americana Project.

At first glance it seems it is a ghost town where someone has parked a number of old vehicles. Closer examination shows there are a number of business that cater to the steady (but small) stream of tourists, including the very good Bisbee Breakfast Club restaurant – get the Shrimp Omelet, it is very good.

We arrived mid afternoon on a Sunday so there weren’t any tourist cars parked in the way of the photo ops with the vintage ones parked all along Erie Street.

One of many low angle views, this one of an Edsel.

Almost all of the cars and trucks parked around town are ‘rusty gold’ including this Studebaker pickup.

An old Chevy underneath the dealership sign.

This old bus has been renamed Strayhound.

There are a few open businesses to entertain you.

A couple of fully restored vehicles stand out amongst the rust.

Lowell, Arizona is one quirky stop, and literally about 1/4 mile from the Shady Dell!

Bisbee, Arizona – January 2023 – The Shady Dell

Architecture, History, Transportation

Bisbee, Arizona is an eclectic little city that has for more than 100 years been a mining town. In addition for the last 40 years it has been a tourist town focused on their thriving artist community. As a result you get some really funky places like the Shady Dell.

The Shady Dell amazingly dates from 1927, when it was started as a motor court for the traffic that was going across county on U.S. 80, long before the interstates.

Today the Shady Dell is home to a number of permanently parked vintage campers that you can rent out for the night.

The Shady Dell’s environment encourages a sense of community.

If you are hungry Dot’s Diner is part of the setting for breakfast and lunch.

The trailers are scattered about, giving you a peaceful setting.

To add to the atmosphere there are a few old cars and trucks sitting around.

For a bit more luxury they offer a restored bus.

For those who love the water, this 1947 Chris Craft yacht is the ticket. Sorry no water, it’s Arizona.

The Shady Dell is truly one of those funky places that you must make a stop at. If you want to stay overnight, plan ahead, rumor has it they are booked up 6 months in advance.

Glendale, Arizona – January 2023 – Martin Auto Museum

Museum, Transportation

The final stop on the Phoenix area car extravaganza is the Martin Auto Museum.

The Mel Martin Auto Museum recently moved to a much larger facility on Thunderbird Road in Phoenix. One great aspect of this museum is you are allowed to open the doors, and get in the cars if you like, on nearly all of the collection.

The facility is well lit, and nicely spaced out.

We start our tour with a couple of Crosley’s tucked back in a corner.

I can see Elvis cruising down the Strip in Las Vegas in this 1964 Ford Thunderbird.

The exquisite tail end of a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado.

A early 1950s Ford Woody Wagon. Ford dropped Woodies in 1951, although they made a faux comeback in the 1960s, but they weren’t real wood like this.

A front look at this 1949 Ford Custom.

I have always been more of a Ford fan than Chevrolet, but this Ranchero in my opinion is nowhere near as cool as an El Camino. Also fairly certain it is looking at envy at the Porsche parked in front of it.

A nice looking mid 1960s Studebaker Wagonaire.

Mel was a hard worker his entire life, and one of his early successes was a towing business, which is represented here by a 1928 Graham Tow Truck.

This long machine is a late 1930s Packard. The hood ornament on this car was one that was featured in the earlier posting of a collection of them.

While many of the vehicles are restored to their original condition, some, like this very cool 1951 Studebaker Pickup, have been heavily customized.

The last car on this visit is, according to Internet research, a 1905 Cadillac.

The Martin Auto Museum has a motto of ‘Please Touch the Cars’. That alone makes it a great visit, but coupled with the low admission cost, great collection and spacious setting makes it a must for any auto enthusiast who is in the area.

Scottsdale, Arizona – January 2023 – The Art of Hood Ornaments

Art, History, Museum, Transportation

In days past most cars had hood ornaments used primarily to communicate the brand. Most of the very early ones also served as radiator caps.

Our look at this art form on the hood start with a 1930s Cadillac. It was known as the Flying Goddess, and was available on Cadillacs up until the late 1950s.

Having failed to note what car this is on, this ‘coiled cobra’ hood ornament only shows up on a 1931 Isotta Fraschini using a Google Images search.

Another Goddess, this one is the Packard Goddess of Speed.

Another great Packard hood ornament. Supposedly patterned on the family crest, it has been called a pelican or sometimes a cormorant.

The 1930 Cadillac LaSalle ornament is leading the way.

The emblem below the ornament indicates this is a 1932 Cadillac LaSalle.

The Cadillac LaSalle series continues with this 1938.

A similar look to the Cadillac, this art deco style ornament is from a 1930s Packard.

The Quail from a 1930s Ford.

This Chevrolet of he same time period has this ornament known as the Confederate

As we move into the 1950s Oldsmobile the ornaments are much more streamlined.

Our final ornament is a swan from an unidentified car. Feel free to identify.

Scottsdale, Arizona – January 2023 – Barrett Jackson Auto Auction Part 3

Art, Transportation

Today’s posting looks as some of the more distinctive ‘noses and tails’ of the classic cars and trucks.

A late 1960s Pontiac GTO

Followed by the next generation GTO from the early 1970s. Personally I think it was a step backwards.

1946 Ford Pickup with a great color combination of cream and red.

The 1956 Ford Thunderbird tail end.

A 2009? Ford GT.

A late 1950s Cadillac.

1959 Ford Fairlane Skyliner.

A long lean mean custom 1962 Lincoln Continental.

We jump ahead a few decades to a 2016-2017ish Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Back to the 50s with this 1951 Nash Rambler.

A late 1950s Porsche 356 Speedster. Sometimes simple is best.

Our final nose is on a 1939 Cadillac Series 61.

Scottsdale, Arizona – January 2023 – Barrett Jackson Auto Auction Part 2

Festival, Transportation

The Barrett Jackson Auction is so large that many automotive vendors have exhibits, with entire massive tents set up for them.

A company called Radical Racing of Canada build reasonably priced (for race cars) ready to race cars.

A prototype Lincoln Star.

A group known as the Future Car Collectors had a show on the grounds as well, with some very cool cars in a great setting.

Let’s take a closer look at the purple Lamborghini Diablo. Not really sure why they call it a future car collector, as this has clearly been collectable for decades.

A BMW M4

Volvo wagons aren’t normally the type of car to be tricked out, but it works.

There were some great paint jobs.

Another in the category of ‘not normally tricked out’ – a Tesla.

After checking out the Future Car Collectors show I made my way to a row of very long tents, with even more cars headed to the auction.

A customized 1935 Chrysler Airflow.

A 1930 Chevrolet Paddy Wagon.

1966 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Custom Sedan.

Another customized classic – a 1957 Lincoln Continental Mark II. Note the size of the tent, 5 rows of cars that was about 300′ long, and there were 6 of these tents in addition to the huge completely indoor tents seen in Part 1 of the auction.

Scottsdale, Arizona – January 2023 – Barrett Jackson Auto Auction Part 1

Transportation

This is the first in a series of automotive postings from a fantastic day in the Phoenix area, starting with the legendary Barrett Jackson Auto Auction.

I went to preview day for the auction, so the facility was stuff with almost 2000 cars to be auctioned. In addition there was a complementary custom car show outside, as well as a collection of prototypes and other vehicles from the major manufacturers, and a collection of petroliana. Car junkie paradise.

We start with a 2021 Ferrari SF90.

2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

The famous wing of a 1970 Plymouth Superbird along with a great roadrunner neon sign.

1960 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible.

1959 Mercedes Benz 190 SL Roadster.

2005 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren

1953 Chevrolet Corvette 235/150 Convertible.

1948 Chevrolet Custom Cab over Engine Pickup.

1968 Jaguar XKE 1.5 Roadster.

1953 Chevrolet Suburban Custom

1948 Chevrolet 5 Window Custom Pickup.

1935 Ford Deluxe Woody Wagon.

1940 Ford Custom Pickup

1965 Porsche 911.

Arizona and Beyond – December 2022 – Favorites of the Year

Architecture, Art, History, Nature, Transportation, Water Features

With another year of travel and photography, with the first full year living in Arizona, it is time to highlight my favorites for the year.

Living in Arizona and the west resulted in far more nature photos than in previous years, but well worth it. But of the thousands of photos taken, I have narrowed it down to 23.

Amazingly two came from the same time in Saguaro National Park East in Tucson as the sun was setting on a January day.

A trip in April to the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert gave us a chance to stay at the campy Wigwam Motel along Route 66 in Holbrook, Arizona for another sunset photo.

The final sunset photo in the series is the classic Grand Canyon shot. What isn’t shown is the 40 MPH winds that were howling in the chilly April evening.

East of Tucson is the small western movie ranch in the town of Mescal.

A bird’s nest in a cactus at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Monument Valley – it doesn’t get any better than here for dramatic scenery.

Western Wyoming in late May with snow still gracing the tops of the mountains.

Grand Teton National Park at dawn.

Oregon Highway 3 in the far eastern part of the state during a very rainy Memorial Day weekend.

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.

Antelope Canyon, Arizona in Navajo Territory. It was a structured tour, but well worth it.

Palm Springs, California with a classic mid century home and an even more classic vintage Mercedes.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.

Late September fall colors in Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway, Utah.

An owl at the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A receding Great Salt Lake, Utah.

Hoover Dam and another fast receding lake – Lake Mead.

Franklin Auto Museum in Tucson.

Dia De Los Muertos – Tucson.

A sculpture in a courtyard at the Tucson Museum of Art.

To finish off the year with one from back east – Millennium Park in Chicago the day after Christmas.

Here is looking forward to an even better 2023.

Tucson – November 2022 – Franklin Auto Museum

Architecture, History, Museum, Nature, Transportation

As the city of Tucson grew it often took over large areas of the desert that were ranch lands. Today some of ranches still exist, often being surrounded by suburbia. The Franklin Auto Museum is in one of those areas.

Thomas Hubbard became a collector of Franklin Automobiles in 1950, and brought them home to his ranch in Tucson. The ranch consists of an adobe home, along with numerous out buildings.

One great feature of this museum is being able to tour the home.

The collection of automobiles are housed in 4 different buildings.

The Franklin Auto Museum is a hidden gem of Tucson.

Tucson – November 2022 – Wayne’s Toys

Art, History, Transportation

Wayne Gould owned a steel business in Pittsburgh until he sold it and retired. Upon retirement he started to buy classic cars.

Fortunately for Tucson he has about 60 of them in an old building in an industrial area.

Wayne has an eclectic collection including this 1934 Chrysler Airflow.

The backside of a 1948 Chrysler Town & Country (among others)

1948 Davis Divan – A three wheeled car built in Van Nuys, California.

1949 Studebaker Champion Business Coupe.

1960 Nash Metropolitan

1960 Renault Caravelle

1963 Apollo 5000 GT. Italian designed, and partially assembled, before being shipped to North America for completion.

1963 Tatra 2-603 – the best of Czechoslovakia.

Holy Hollywood – a 1966 Batmobile Replica. And for those who are curious Robin apparently had said 359 different ‘holy something or other’ lines during the TV series run.