Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: September 17th, 2008
Used Car Lot, Compton, CA, 1958
Knee high posts cage highly waxed used cars on a cement lot puddled with drippy motor oil. The signage is simple, satisfying and informative. Strung lights, barely visible by day, make the cars sparkle after sundown. A two-toned pearl grey and black cherry 1954 Plymouth Cranbrook sits waiting for a buyer. The stodgy yet stylish working man’s sedan is displayed between two dressier cars, a mint green ’53 DeSoto and an iridescent emerald green ‘53 Packard.
This scene is oh-so familiar to me. My dad had a big ‘ol used car lot when I was a kid. I spent many a Saturday playing there going from car to car pretending to drive each one. By the time I was ten I could tell you the year, make and model of every car on the lot.
I’ll never forget this old bag lady that my dad let live on the lot. I guess she kept an eye on things at night. All I know is that she totally gave me the creeps. She lived in an old Plymouth just like the one in the slide only it was pink and a station wagon. It was full to the brim with who-knows-what. Finally after a few years she died and my dad towed the car home. He just had to find out what she had stashed in there. I helped him go through it. Layer by layer we emptied the car. I’m not really sure what he thought he was going to find. Probably money. But there was no cash just stacks and stacks of nothing but old newspaper.
Speaking of cars, I’m doing a slide show at the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA this Thursday night at 7:30!
Here’s to used car lots the old bag lady and YOU!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
September 2008
4 Comments on “Used Car Lot, Compton, CA, 1958”
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September 17th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Charles,
You’ve done it again. I am alerting all my friends in the National Desoto Club to view this…we finally made the big time. If you have to be a bag lady then give me a pink Plymouth wagon. T-Bird
September 17th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I found and bought (with 3 high-school buddies) a 1969 LAMBORGHINI MUIRA in a lot like this in Vegas. It’s provenance? It WAS GIVEN TO A UNLV BASKETBALL PLAYER. He got sauced one night and drove it into the desert. That really boogered it up.
Uncle Frank Gorgie had a Cadillac lot JUST LIKE THIS ONE in Anaheim, California (Town Auto!). Loved the instrument panels on his then new, 60’s whaleboats: they looked just like pinball machines!
We sold the Lambo (after repairing it) for a couple thousand dollars. It’s worth a QUARTER MIL NOW!!!
September 17th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Charles,
What a gem of a photo–your commentary and memories are priceless! Another one to include in your next book– What will the theme be?
“thanks for the memories” LP
September 17th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Those beautiful painted wall signs! I’m a sign painter, and I look to mid-century signs for inspiration. More signs like that would make me very happy if you have them