Sweet Ride

It's the end of the first week of classes for fall semester, and my husband and I thought it would be safe enough to go into town to enjoy lunch out and to buy a few things. We had a lovely steak dinner and I picked up my prescriptions, and then my husband went for groceries at Giant (including purchasing 5 bags of Utz potato chips for $8 on a Labor Day weekend deal!), while I sat in the car reading a really gripping murder mystery.

There were two fancy cars right in front of me in the parking lot, and I got out and took my time and photographed them both. One was a classic 2003 Corvette (it had the 50th anniversary logo on it), in Millennium Yellow. The other was this one, an antique two-door orange Plymouth, with a 1965 license plate on the front.

I walked all around both cars and took lots of pictures, especially of the Plymouth (see more photos of this car here), whose color was so bright that it fairly shone with light of its own making. The car's chrome was shiny, and it was perfectly maintained, and gorgeous, and it drew a lot of attention. It has Chrysler cop car wheels and hubcaps, and a SuperStock hood scoop. The "Intimidator" license plate on the front indicates the owner is a fan of NASCAR racing legend Dale Earnhardt.

Shortly after I finished my trek around it, with camera, two different older guys showed up, walked around, and did the same. One guy got out a cell phone and snapped numerous photos, including the interior. I bet other people did the same thing, wherever this car went, all day long. Forget imitation; in MY book, photography is the sincerest form of flattery! In fact, when I posted my photos on Facebook, a local friend indicated HE had seen the car that day and photographed it, as well!

The 1965 Plymouth did not bear any information anywhere on it about what model of car it is. A metal tag on the front says the engine's a 440, but I looked it up online, and no 1965 Plymouth model of car came standard with a 440. So there's a bit of a mystery.

The 440 first became a standard option in 1966, though you could indeed modify/soup up a 1965 Belvedere with a custom 440 engine. So Belvedere's my best guess on the orange car. A friend whose husband owns a '66 Belvedere says it could be one, but it would usually bear its name on the two front fenders. Which it does not. Any old car lovers/experts are welcome to chime in!

In any event, it was lovely to come across this car, and have a chance to photograph it. My personal philosophy is that when the Universe sends you something really spectacular, for goodness' sake, GO TAKE A LOOK AT IT!!! With camera, of course!

I wanted a song about driving and I think this one will do. Here are the Beach Boys, with I Get Around.

P.S. I am laughing as I recall a line from a favorite film that I think describes this car. The film is the 1976 Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor comedy Silver Streak, and the quote appears in this short video. (Language warning.)