1941 Chevy Special Deluxe - Compas Southeast

At the Los Angeles Bombs car show in Santa Fe Springs, California, we had the opportunity to engage in conversation with several members of the Compas Southeast car club. Among the impressive vehicles on display, a 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe stood out as a remarkable specimen. The distinctive design and aesthetics of these cars are truly captivating when viewed in person.

The car culture prevalent in Los Angeles County is evident in the appreciation of these vehicles by the local community. While stock versions of these cars may lack the distinctive accessories that enhance their visual appeal, such as fog lights, spotlights, cigarette pack holders, hat racks, and dashboard-mounted compasses, these accessories contribute to the cars’ unique character.

The black paint job on the vehicle in question particularly caught my attention, exuding a deep and reflective quality. The interior, which I rarely photograph, was equally impressive considering its age of 84 years. 

 

Moises's '39

In June of this year, Kathy and I attended a car show hosted by the Los Angeles Bombs car club in Santa Fe Springs, California. We had previously previewed the club’s cars at the Rialto car show held earlier this year. At that event, the club members were courteous and inquired about our photography. They informed us of their upcoming car show and extended an invitation for us to attend.

We arrived at the show around 6:30 a.m. and discovered approximately 20 cars already in attendance, including 10 or so parked on the street in front of the industrial lot where the car show was held. We photographed the cars on the street first and then entered the show proper. By that time, there were likely 30 cars parked in the lot. So many impressive cars to photograph! The weather was pleasant and cool with overcast skies. It was essentially an ideal day for photography. We spent some time wandering around and capturing photographs. I alternated between the two cameras I brought and swapped lenses as well. I found a charming 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe tucked away in the front left corner of the parking lot, adjacent to the club’s popup tents where several club members were sitting. I took several sets of photographs of this car, moving my tripod from one location to another. The club members did not approach me but observed me closely. The 1938 and 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe is one of my favorite vehicles, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to capture this particularly fine example.

'48 Pomona Blues

Toward the end of our visit to the Pomona Auto Swap Meet last March, I strolled along the drag strip grandstands and stumbled upon a striking two-tone blue 1948 Chevy Fleetline. Usually, I skip through the cars in this section because their hoods are raised, and for-sale signs are prominently displayed on the windshields. However, this car was different. It wasn’t for sale, but its paint shone brilliantly, reflecting the light even amidst the intermittent rain showers and threatening skies overhead. After taking several photos with my camera, I snapped another one with my phone and sent it to Kathy, letting her know about the car and its location so she wouldn’t miss it. I’m not sure if she’s ever seen this particular car before, but I’m certainly glad I added it to my digital collection.

 

Truck Stop

I was taking a moment to change lenses at the Riverside Show and Go car show, when this slammed red chevy truck rolled up and stopped right in front of me it's airbags hissing as it lowered itself to the ground. The driver spent a few minutes talking to some of the car show staff before raising the car off the ground and motoring off. That was enough time for me to abandon the lens change and take 2 full HDR sequences conisting of a total of 18 images.

This is Not Your Mothers Station Wagon

Kathy and I came across this amazing 1957 Chevy station wagon at the Majestics Car Club show in Norwalk in late March 2023. To say it stood apart from the other cars at this show would be a significant understatement. The paint job on this car was nothing short of spectacular. We both chatted with the owner who told me he orignally wanted to go with a solid blue color but the painter convinced him he would regret that decision and be back to have the car painted in the look it now wears so well. He decided to go for it and wow I'm so glad he did. This paint treatmentcovers the entire car including the roof so I had to hold my tripod over my head to capture the beautiful design on it and trigger off 9 shots, trying to hold the camera steady. 

"If you want to make a statement, wear purple." - Baron Davis

Kathy and I went to the Azelea Festival car show in Southgate California on a recent Sunday morning. While that show is now just a shadow of what it once was, there were still about 50 very nice cars to photograph but we were done fairly quickly. So something very rare happened. Kathy asked me if I was done and ready to leave. Usually, I am the one that asks that question of her. As we were walking back to the car, she told me there was another car show being held that day in Norwalk. Not too far from where we were. It was being hosted by the Majestics Car Club and when we arrived we found about 50-75 spectacular cars parked in the Civic Center Plaza parking lot. I found this 1953 Chevy Truck parked in front of one of the store fronts and it really stood out with that highly refelctive purple paint. 

Chicano Park Fleetline

The Chicano Park car show held in Barrio Logan, adjacent to downtown San Diego is an event that Kathy and I look forward to attending each year. The San Diego area was crowded in part because the Padres and the Dodgers were playing all weekend. We took the Amtrak Surfliner train into town and rode the San Diego Trolley train from downtown to Barrio Logan and avoided all of the traffic congestion.

The neighborhood of Barrio Logan is a historically Latino area of San Diego County and the park itself has a very interesting history. Located below the 5 freeway and the approaches to the Coronado Bay Bridge, it is home to many murals painted on the concrete highway supports.

I saw this beautiful 1948(?) Chevrolet Fleetline at the show. There seemed to be fewer cars in attendance this year. Kathy and I assumed it was because of the threat of rain. This car had some cool mini-murals on the front and back bumper areas. Not sure if the wood on the sides are original to the car or not.

There Goes the Neighborhood

This is all going to end in tears, I'm sure of it. They opened up a liquor store right across the street from the Aztec temple in this striking hood mural I spotted at the Santa Fe Dam car show in Irwindale, California. Does this mean that all the Aztec dudes are going to start showing up at the human sacrifices hammered, three sheets to the wind? The skull-double headed arrow thing looks like it would hurt. The car's a Chevy, didn't catch the make.

Power Glide

I saw this cool old Chevy at the Dia Del Los Muertos event in Uptown Whittier. Everything about it seemed to be distressed and in my eyes all the more interesting for it. It still runs. I've seen it parked around town in various places. I really liked the look of this classic emblem.

Red Pinstriped '39 Master Deluxe

Kathy and I decided to go to the Viejitos Halloween car show in Fullerton. We got there a little early in the day. It's pretty rare to find a great looking car at a show without another couple of cars parked closely on either side, which kind of divides the viewer's attention and clutters up the picture. Do I wish those chairs on the right were out of the picture? Sure I do but not enough to spend the time it would take to convincingly clone them out in Photoshop. This 1939 Chevy Master Deluxe was pretty clean. The paint was great and I liked the subtle use of pin-striping. I took a bunch of HDR sequences of it from several viewpoints.