Minneapolis Street Sighting: Dodge Charger

I've just realized; in all my posts, I have never once featured a Dodge Charger, mainly for one reason; they're simply not common out my way. Usually, when a car enthusiast hears the namesake, he or she either thinks of a)The Dukes of Hazzard or b) Bullitt. Not so, with this example.
A far cry from the rip-snorting muscle car of 1967 to 1970, these 1971+ models were geared more toward luxury than any real muscle pretensions that the name would otherwise suggest. Sure, it had a wide slew of engine options, and even the bright colors of the previous generation did find home on this new car, but to many, the 1971-1974 were not quite what an one would call "sweet." What they lacked in appearance, they apparently made up for under the hood, but to most non-car fans, that doesn't matter. This generation simply isn't sought after; and with good reason. If you remembered a square, two box hardtop wearing a confederate flag on TV, would you flock to a vinyl top-laden, long-nosed short-decked beast that had the charisma of a dead rat? I don't think so. While I can't quite say I totally hate this generation, this particular one isn't doing my eyes any favors.
Caked in a decidedly matte finish, and rolling on turbine wheels, this car seems to be stuck in 1980, and it almost works-- wait. No it doesn't. It just seems like the current owner found it in a field, bought it, and got it running. Good for him. I'd rather see it either done up in all 1970s kitchiness with window louvers, proper American Racing Vector wheels and odd colored interior, or turned into a Super Bee clone. As it is, though, this car leaves me a be stale, excitement-wise. Definitely not quite what I expect from something carrying the Charger moniker. Well, there's always the new Charger...wait.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Imperial Newport coupe

Like yesterday's post, this Imperial, too, is quite a rare find-- especially in the "land o'rust" as my friend puts it. And rare it is. With only 7140 sedans made and about half as many coupes, certainly roughly 11,000 cars made over 50 years ago means that the chance of survivors is pretty slim. And this unusually pristine example? If memory serves, this beautiful Imperial is a one owner as of this shoot.
When the big luxury coupe boom took off, key players were predominantly Cadillac and Lincoln. Since Chrysler couldn't afford to lose out (they were part of the 'Big Three' after all), they hedged their bets. While Imperial was a lineup of rather ritzy Chrysler models, the company knew one thing almost instantly; when it comes to luxurious nameplates, prestige is the ticket. While Cadillac and Lincoln sound expensive and high class, Chrysler.. well, okay that had the 300 letter car, and the Airflow, but as a whole, the Chrysler nameplate didn't exactly have the panache that luxury car buyers expected.
Enter Imperial. To cure Chrysler's want for a piece of the prestigious American coupe pie, the now-renowned (in a good way?) automaker decided it would be in its best interest to launch Imperial as its own brand. Well, it worked. Sort of. I know there were just barely 11,000 Imperials sold in 1955, but the key to the luxury car market is quality over quantity. Quantity has to be kept low, and quality high. And to that note, this Imperial is the prime specimen of that philosophy when applied to Chrysler.
I have honestly not seen a nicer 1950s American car in terms of exquisite detailing and craftsmanship; it really is a sight to behold. The paint-- flawless; the chrome and detailing-- absolutely incredible. Just the badging on font on this legendary classic make you wonder how the company who turned out this gigantic, gorgeous green two door can churn out such monstrosities like the much hated Aspen/Volare twins.
As one would expect, being such a rare car, the owner has kept this one is remarkably stunning condition, especially considering where it lives. I don't think I feature enough Chrysler products, but such four-wheeled masterpieces such as this having me reconsidering my Chrysler selection. I only wish cars like this were more plentiful here.

Minnesota Street Sighting: Desoto Adventurer

Every year, my family goes way up north to Bad Medicine Lake, near the boundary waters. On that epic drive, we pass through many quaint, small, roadside towns littering Highway 71. A couple years a go, I shot two abandoned Chevys; this year netted this remarkably nice Desoto Adventurer.
Usually, on the drive up, I'd see hoards and hoards of Chevys, Fords, and quite a few other American makes. Never can I remember seeing a Desoto, so that in itself made this Adventurer worth stopping for.
Swathed in probably-original black paint and not-so-original baby moon hubcaps, this example was quite possibly one of the nicest examples I'd seen. All the chrome trim was in its factory condition, largely due to this little town probably not getting much salt in the winter. Even so, the black paint fit this car like no other. I honestly don't think I could imagine this thing in another color. The moons, with the teeny amount of chrome, make this a sure standout.
To be honest, this shoot was kind of rushed, since we were on our way home, but I think my favorite picture out of this little shoot is the taillight/fin. I wish I could've done better, but hey, I did what I could. I'm happy with how this shoot came out, especially considering the quickness/hastiness of the shoot itself.