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Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,169
Registered: ‎02-02-2015

Rear View Mirror: A Look Back at Road Trips Through the Years

[ Edited ]

On March 5, 2018, an online article just called PHOTOS, showed some really cool photos of traveling way back when. Thought you might enjoy seeing these vintage snapshots of long ago. All photos courtesy of Getty Images; however, no name is attached to the article as to who compiled the information.

 

 

British Couple, 1930.jpg

A young British couple in their car, circa 1930.

 

 

 

Map, New York, 1938.jpg 

A couple consult the map for directions, somewhere in New York, circa 1938.

 

 

 

Hitchhikers, Louisiana.jpg 

Hitchhikers are seen near Natchitoches, Louisiana, June 1940.

 

 

 

Packard One-Twenty 1941.jpg 

A couple pose for a photo besides their Packard One-Twenty convertible towing a wooden powerboat, during a trip in California, 1941.

 

 

 

South America 1946.jpg 

A group of travelers put finishing touches to their jeep before embarking on a road trip through South America, 1946.

 

 

 

girl reads a book.jpg 

A girl reads a book as her mother drives during their road trip through Virginia, 1949.

 

 

 

Man loads suitcase 1940.jpg 

A man loads suitcases into the trunk/boot of a car, as a woman looks on, 1940s.

 

 

 

Girl and brother, Williamsburg, 1949.jpg 

A girl shares a fun moment with her brother during their road trip through Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1949.

 

 

 

Two children, Williamsburg, 1949.jpg 

Two children spend their time with craft activities during a trip in Williamsburg, Virginia, 1949.

 

 

 

Tourist cabins Nova Scotia, 1950.jpg 

A car is seen outside tourist cabins in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, 1950.

 

 

 

Car parked along roadside, 1952.jpg 

A car parked along the roadside at a scenic overlook, 1952.

 

 

 

Couple loads luggage, Britain, 1953.jpg 

A couple loads luggage in their Standard Eight car in Britain, September 1953.

 

 

 

Kid helps father, 1955.jpg 

A child helps his father load a suitcase into their Ford Country Squire station wagon as they prepare for a road trip, circa 1955.

 

 

 

Tourists stop, Northern Ireland, 1955.jpg 

Tourists stop to consult a map near Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, circa 1955.

 

 

 

LZ motel, 1955.jpg 

A motel named LZ (or Lazy) in Winslow, Arizona, circa 1955.

 

 

 

Parking lot, Royal Gorge, Colorado, 1955.jpg 

The car parking lot is seen near the Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City, Colorado, circa 1955.

 

 

 

Trailer, France.jpg 

A car pulls a trailer through the French commune of Accolay, Yonne, France, on August 31, 1955

 

 

 

Two men load trunks 1957.jpg 

Two men try to load trunks into their car before going on a vacation, as a child looks on in Paris, France, on June 29, 1957.

 

 

 

Tourists explore dunes 1957.jpg 

Tourists explore the dunes and the surf in jeeps in Pismo Beach, California, on July 8, 1957.

 

 

 

Picknic 1958.jpg 

Tourists stop for a picnic during their road trip through France, July 1958.

 

 

 

Gas in the car.jpg 

A petrol pump attendant fills up a Chrysler, circa 1958.

 

 

 

Buick comes around the bend.jpg 

A Buick comes around a bend in Oregon, circa 1958.

 

 

 

Bellhop helps at hotel.jpg 

A bellhop helps out hotel guests with their luggage in 1960.

 

 

 

Jaguar 1960.jpg 

A Jaguar XK-E is seen outside a motel, circa 1960.

 

 

Tourists load bikes.jpg 

Two tourists load their bikes on the back of their car at a motel in 1960.

 

 

 

Two women at pyramid.jpg 

Two women pose with their car near the pyramid complex at the ceremonial site in Monte Alban, Mexico, in 1960.

 

 

 

Taxi and moped.jpg 

A taxi and moped are seen at the Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda, circa 1960.

 

 

 

Family on roadtrip.black and white.jpg 

A family is photographed during their road trip in the 1960s.

 

 

 

VW in desert.jpg 

A tourist tries to maneuver a Volkswagen Beetle through a desert road, January 1972.

 

 

 

Sicily, Italy, 1970.jpg 

Cars on a street of Sicily, Italy, in the 1970s.

 

 

 

Doberman in sidecar.jpg 

A Doberman rides along with his owners during a road trip from California to Florida, May 1976.

 

 

 

Two friends, Boulder.jpg 

Two friends take a break from driving as they take in the scenic beauty from the top of their bus near Boulder, Colorado, in April 1981.

 

 

 

A man is stalled.jpg 

A man is stalled by ice on the road near Denver, Colorado, as he tows his boat for a fishing trip to Lake Powell in Utah, October 1982.

 

 

 

Tourists pose in front of bus, 1980.jpg 

Tourists pose in front of their bus in Padua, Italy, in the 1980s.

 

 

 

Motorcyclists cruises.jpg 

A motorcyclist cruises down a highway in South Dakota, with his dog in 2001.

 

 

 

A man adjusts his rear-view mirros.jpg 

A man adjusts his rear-view mirror during a road trip through Arizona, in 2001.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,415
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: Rear View Mirror: A Look Back at Road Trips Through the Years

[ Edited ]

I love these photos, @World Traveler.  Thank you so much for sharing.  I especially love the idea of a road trip "back in the day."

 

Did you ever see the 1971 French film "Trafic"?  It was a Mr. Hulot film in which he designed a clever camper car that he drove from Paris to Amsterdam.  If you haven't seen it already, I think you might enjoy it, if for nothing else than the clever camper car.

 

Your post also reminded me of this 2012 Sunset magazine cover featuring a vintage trailer.  There's such a feeling of warmth, and maybe even community, associated with those times.  

 

Image result for sunset magazine with yellow trailer on cover

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.
Honored Contributor
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Registered: ‎02-02-2015

Re: Rear View Mirror: A Look Back at Road Trips Through the Years

@GingerPeach Oh, really like that Sunset photo! It actually looks comfortable.

 

No, I have never seen that French film. I might have to check that out. Thanks! Smiley Happy

 

 

Honored Contributor
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Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: Rear View Mirror: A Look Back at Road Trips Through the Years

@World Traveler,

This photo you shared of the 1955 French road trip made me recall the Sunset cover.  

 

Trailer, France.jpg

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.
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Re: Rear View Mirror: A Look Back at Road Trips Through the Years

@GingerPeach Definitely! Wonder what those cost back then. Hmmmm...

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Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,415
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Re: Rear View Mirror: A Look Back at Road Trips Through the Years

@World Traveler

I thought you'd like a look at the French movie camper car from Trafic.

 

I'm not really big on camping, per se, but the romance and idea of camping somehow is really appealing.  I think I must be odd!

 

Image result for jacques tati trafic

 

Image result for jacques tati trafic

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.
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Re: Rear View Mirror: A Look Back at Road Trips Through the Years

@GingerPeach LOL!!!! Love the photos! Looks more like a tailgate party!