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I was born and raised in Southern California, and that ‘s the excuse I provide for my love of cars, that and the fact that my father retired from Chrysler. California is a state full of freeways and highways and our weather permits driving almost everywhere year round.
When I was growing up I was able to identify most car makes and models, and I would say that hasn’t changed too much, although I find so many automobile manufacturers copy each other, so it can be tricky to distinguish a Toyota Camry from a host of import and American like-sized models.
So, when a co-worker drove his beautifully restored 1947 Dodge pick-up truck into our lot, I confess, I was excited to see it up close. I was offered a spin around the block and the charm of this vehicle didn’t disappoint. Cars can reflect the simpler times perceived to have been, back in the day.
I’ve never been to my coworkers home but this truck would look great in a garage like this, right? Love the red door of this pretty home.
To tie my love of cars with my love of homes I’m providing you with some images of vintage cars and the garages they might be kept in. This might be a bit of a stretch but I do love the pictures of these vintage cars.
The Volkswagen ‘bug’ was my first, second and third car. I won’t go into the details of why I had so many but let me just say, it wasn’t for lack of longevity on the automobile’s part.
Assuming I could choose, this would be my garage…attached to a darling Carmel cottage.
or this one…
[my apologies to Debra at 5th and State for not being able to link to the exact post when these great garages were published, I was unable to find it. If you’ve never been to 5th and State you will enjoy the search if you’d like to see more]
The car below is so darn cute. I have a friend that recently purchased one of these. I’ve got to remember to ask for a spin around the block.
{Google: Morris Minor, images}
Doesn’t this cottage garage look like it would house the Morris Minor?
When I was growing up this was my dream car. I didn’t want to go fast, I just loved the design of the vehicle. In fact I used to say if they could install a Volkswagen engine in one, I’d be ecstatic and maybe it would be affordable.
I imagine someone that has maintained a Porsche like this would live in something like this…
or this…
I’ve never been a huge Jaguar fan, primarily because I had always heard horror stories of their lack of reliability engine wise. Reliability is critical to me when driving. That said, this XKE is tempting, right?
This home would do nicely for a car with such distinguished roots, don’t you think?
or this fabulous home in Santa Barbara.
{Penelope Bianchi, Santa Barbara}
I’ve never really cared for the styling of the Lincoln, but I think this one, in this photograph, looks great.
This vintage garage door seems fitting for a Lincoln.
A classic woody seems to belong in Southern California, the ideal spot for a surfer car like this.
Even though the garage doors below are from a company out of Houston, the exterior of this home looks very California style to me.
I don’t even know what kind of car this is but it’s seriously cool, don’t you think?
So my guess is that a car aficionado that owns this car would want a detached garage for this baby.
…and maybe they’d ride a bike when they didn’t want to risk driving on crowded California streets, complete with drivers that text and talk on their phones! Yikes.
Thank you for indulging me. It would have been my father’s 82nd birthday this week, cars just naturally on my mind.
mydesignchic said:
What a wonderful post and love your restored truck. These garages would be perfect for your “new” Ford!! Such a fun and unique post ~
Karen B. said:
Thank you! I’ve seen so many wonderful garage doors in blog land and when my friend brought his refurbished vintage truck to work it sparked the idea.
Karen
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes said:
I LOVE that truck… your friend did an amazing job. Although? Personally, I would have painted it robin’s egg blue, so maybe he wants to consider that for his next project.
My grandfather worked for Studebaker in Indiana. And when he passed away, one of the grandsons took the car that had been rusting in the garage for over fifty years and restored it. It’s really amazing. The back doors hinge the opposite way you’d expect, and there are little roller shades on the windows. And? I really think you could fit a refrigerator in the backseat… it’s enormous!!
Karen B. said:
Victoria,
That is so cool that one of the grandsons restored an old Studebaker…I admire the patience and $$$ that would take. I love your idea of the robin’s egg blue, I’ll suggest it to him.
My friend told me that doors that open opposite from standard were called suicide doors…that conjures up an image! So when you get out of the car you risk your life? Not a good thing.
Karen
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
Wonderful post! Loved all those darling Carmel cottages, great garages, and fabulous cars. I have to admit that I always wanted a VW bug in bright red. Our new neighbors have one and I drool every time I drive by.
Your co-workers truck is amazing. The restoration was obviously a labor of love.
Karen B. said:
When you pair up the cars with the darling garages, it makes it all look great, right? I think my days for driving a VW are gone, I enjoy the comfort and ability to see the road with your SUVs, but a red bug would be cute.
xo,
Karen
Carla said:
Karen…excellent post pairing the classic cars and fabulous garages to house them. While not a car person myself..you can attest to that..I could envision the corgis and me tootling down the road with the soft SoCal breeze wafting through our hair,fur and big floppy ears in one of those vintage beauties. I hope your daddy is streaking down Heaven’s highway in a big shark finned Chrysler and having a joyous time. XOXOXOCARLA
Karen B. said:
Carla,
You’re the best! Thanks for your support. Yep, I think my first love has to be for home based details, the cars are a nice addition. I hope for my dad’s sake, there’s cars in heaven.
xo,
Karen
Gretchen said:
Karen, I love the inspiration for this post. After all the years I’ve known you I didn’t know your dad worked for Crystler or that you were a car person! My dad was also a serious car guy who even volunteered in the pit crews at the Pamona raceway when I was in elementary school. His passion was vintage cars.
I don’t know what I liked more – the gorgeous cars or those wonderful garages (with houses attached!). This post was such a nice tribute to your dad!
Karen B. said:
Thanks so much. Many of the garage doors were on cottages in Carmel {sigh}.
Karen
Ricki Jill Treleaven said:
Your coworker’s truck rocks out loud! I truly love this post. I have always loved cats, and I think it would be so much fun to live in an adorable cottage with a matching detached garage one day. Oh, and by the way….I drive a Beetle! ;P
I bet your daddy would have loved this post!
Karen B. said:
Hi Ricki Jill,
Thanks, I would like to think he would have thought it sweet. I agree, the cottage garages are so appealing, I can only imagine have a great little cottage attached…and another beetle! Lucky you, what color is it?
Karen