Where’s Jalopy? – Mexico City, Mexico
Where’s Jalopy this time, Mexico City. I have heard that Mexico is a place where old American cars go to die. Whist that may be true of some of the examples I have found, there seems to be a good selection of well preserved classics over here. Of course there are plenty of other nationalities represented too.
Latest Articles
Once back on the right path, a metro ride to an overland train station where I caught my next ride I had some good views of the surrounding area. Something had caught my eye and I knew I’d have to walk around to try and find it later.
It turns out that it wouldn’t be too much later as they had emptied the car museum and it looked like they were pulling the building down. This was a little unfortunate as I hear the collection was superb. I was a few months too late, obviously. A chat with the sales guys in the Nissan shop and they told me their boss, the dealer owner, was also the owner of the museum and they had no idea where the collection had gone to.
Anyway, I wandered off to find this distressed Oldsmobile Super 88, a 1952 or thereabouts example which would make it a first generation car. There are quite a few differences in style to this later example to the first couple of years, especially in the rear end beyond the doors.
It turns out that it was a project car for Beey Motorcycles, a custom shop where they build bikes from scratch. As soon as they noticed me taking an interest in the car, I was invited inside the workshop for a tour, whilst there was work in progress…. you don’t get this kind of access in the U.K.
The workmanship was absolutely stunning and there were some fantastic creations in there and not just bikes. There were a couple of truck projects too including this.
Their lack of English and my lack of Spanish meant other than identifying this as a Ford, I hadn’t got much idea what it was, or indeed had become. Stunning looking vehicle though, the paint finish alone was staggering..
But it’s the bikes they turn out is how they make their living and they do it incredibly well. if you’ve got $40,000 USD then I’d say this is money well spent. Have a look at these:
Words cannot describe the quality of work I saw, completed and ongoing, so have a look for yourselves. Of course, if you place an order say Jalopy sent you. www.beeymotorcycle.com
Back out and about I came across one of the Mexican assembled 1966 Plymouth Valiants. The owner, and older gentleman was very proud, and rightly so, of his car, obviously doing everything he could to preserve it.
There wasn’t much of the brightwork attached and bits of the interior were missing, but overall this was in nice condition. Resplendent in it’s red with white roof and matching trim.
On a more European theme this Mercedes Fintail, a 220 I think, was surviving well in the back streets of Colonia Napoles. I think the cost of chrome trim mean that if it isn’t there it isn’t replaced, but the car was none the worse for it looking reasonably straight.
Just imagine back in the U.K finding classics lying around the streets like this. Here, no-one really bats an eyelid.
Now, big trucks and 4x4s are a regular sight in North America and there are plenty to be found in Mexico City. Of course, a city full of 4x4s, this seems to be a trend world over, but I love this kind.
I really could imagine using something like this Dodge Ram, late 1980s I think, maybe even newer. What’s interesting is that cars, well trucks, sell really well in the U.S. They all seem to have something in common. Chrome bumpers. Could we see them return to passenger cars, maybe not, but I wonder how they’d integrate them into the modern style. Maybe someone who can vinyl wrap could have a go, I can see this sort of thing catching on. Maybe in rap videos or something where they feature expensive and or blinged up regular cars. I kind of hope they do.
I wandered into a parking lot to get a closer look at this 1980 Chrysler Dart, not a Dodge, so I think this one may have been built in Mexico too, after all they do have quite a large auto industry here. This simple styled three box two door sedan look unfussy compared to some moder vehicles that look like their styling was the result of an explosion in a polygon factory…
This was a really tidy car, left unlocked, keys in the ignition and a bag on the seat with the drivers window down. I wondered if it could be a valet parking place for the restaurant opposite. I left quietly so no-on thought I was going to steal the car.
Now I usually leave the weirdest until last, but this isn’t the last or particularly weird. In the museum of popular arts this crochet Beetle was rather neat and drew me inside. The rest of the museum was well worth a look too.
Ok, this is it… and it’s rather sad. It’s always distressing to see a classic badly damaged like this. Now I had a good look around the car and from what I could see whoever, if there was anyone in it, probably got out of it. But the level of destruction means that it’s probably not going to be repaired.
Found in a long line of damaged cars near a police station it looked like part of something official. I was kind of hoping that it was responsible for some of the massive damage to a modern Golf, but I doubted it…
It’s got the early 50’s look and it looks like it was a 52 to 56 Ford Customline, but I’m not exactly sure of the model. What I was sure of, upon closer inspection, was the amount of rust in the lower third of the car. The door bottoms and what would have been the sill area was fairly well gone. The blue paint looking good from a distance was apparently holding some of the car together. Still, a very sad end.
Simon
Don’t forget to follow Jalopy on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Latest Articles
Latest Audi Articles
Jalopy Gallery Collection
Retromobile Paris 2019 Photo Gallery
21/12/2020
Race Retro 2020 Photo Gallery
17/12/2020
Retromobile Paris 2020 Photo Gallery
19/11/2020
