Looking at the wonderful old new cars in 1922

Time-travel with me and let's go look at a wonderful car show of 1922 cars. Actually, it's just a bunch of cars parked by the Sea-View Restaurant in Asbury, New Jersey, but it's exactly what I see whenever I go to a car show.


I've always loved going to car shows, and I've been to a lot of them, including the Barrett-Jackson here in Arizona. I have friends who collect classic cars, and they've often been kind enough to invite me along. And while they're buying or selling, I've always loved to just wander around, looking at the cars. And if I'm lucky, there comes a wonderful magical moment when I'm transformed in time. That happens when I'm standing next to a car that looks brand new, from long, long ago. And that's why an image like this is so fascinating to me.

No, I'm not a collector, and no, I'm not interested in buying one of the cars. Luckily, people must recognize that I have shallow pockets when I'm wandering around looking at the cars, because mostly I'm left alone. Every once in a while someone speaks to me and I wake up from my daydreaming long enough to be civil, but as soon as possible I want to go back to, for example, 1922.

This photo was taken back then, and scanned by the Duke University, because of the billboards. Back then it was a way to prove to an advertiser that their money was well-spent, and nowadays scholars study the history of advertising. But I just want to walk up to those cars.

I've never ridden a motorcycle, but I have a special fascination for them. I especially like the one there in the foreground, with the sidecar, complete with tonneau. The one back there where the two guys are talking looks pretty cool, too. I think I could walk around looking at these cars for hours!

When I go to car shows, I stay away from the customized and modified stuff. I look for original equipment, especially rims. Modern modifications just seems to spoil the whole effect for me. But that being said, I like seeing period mods, because people have always liked to modify their cars!

One thing you never, ever do at a car show is touch the cars! Never! I like to walk around with my hands behind my back, and if I get close to a car, especially one from the 1920s, I love to be able to smell it a bit. If it's all been redone with modern plastic upholstery it's just not the same.

And it's always nice if the owner is there, and starts up the car. Yes, they're very loud (engines like lawnmowers, and no pollution controls!) and it's a reminder how incredibly dirty and noisy these vehicles were. And yes, there's no place to plug in your iPhone, no seat belts, no air conditioning, and many of these cars didn't even have heaters. But in 1922 they were much, much better than a horse and wagon! They were thoroughly modern, and that's how I like to look at them.

Thank you for looking at some old new cars with me!

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