I was recently thumbing thru an old issue of The Shelby American and ran across this photo.
My first reaction was,"Hey, a 1966 GT 350 with dash lights that work!"
I reacted to the photo that way because of how my fellow 1966 owner friends and I have lamented over the years about how incredibly dim our dash and tach lights are. But this photo sure goes against that grain. So I kidded them to start digging thru their old National Geographics because I had never seen the actual photo myself:
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/52-280220104911.jpeg)
Sure enough, George Watters responded right away that not only had he cut the photograph out of his February 1968 issue, but that he still had it and would send it to me to scan! He did so, and here it is:
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/52-280220104945.jpeg)
We all started discussing it, and came up with some observations. George & I agreed that the speedometer reads about 50 mph, and that the tachometer reads about 2200 rpm. Steve calculated that with a 6.95 x 14 tire, that comes up with a rear end gear ratio number of about 3.31. Given that that the instrument needle readings in the photo are approximate, that points to it being a 3.50 gear ratio, and thus most likely is a C4 automatic car. Denny theorized that the driver's hands are in positions that seem more likely suited to driving an automatic, as one's right hand may be on the shifter if it was a four speed.
I of course wondered if it was a Hertz car, but we can't see the color of the car/stripes or if a Hertz warning sticker is on the dash somewhere. We all commented on the rear view mirror! That had to have been changed due to the type of photograph they wanted to portray. Also, George adds that the I-10 runs east & west, starting somewhere around Santa Monica.
So, the whole re-discovery of this photo and subsequent discussions and observations of it were really fun. It would be even more fun is someone here knows "photographer Jonathan Blair" and he could comment on this (now famous!) photo.
Kieth
Cool photo Kieth!
Probably a Hertz based on the redline indicator, they didn't want renters to exceed 3K RPM...
Dave - good eye! I forgot to mention that we laughed about the position of the red line needle too!
I love that photo! It should be turned into a painting. It possesses a certain introspection about it. Like reflecting upon one's own life moving forward at speed into the uncertain future. I really like it. Thanks for sharing, Kieth.
Best,
Richard E.
Quote from: s2ms on February 28, 2020, 11:38:36 AM
Cool photo Kieth!
Probably a Hertz based on the redline indicator, they didn't want renters to exceed 3K RPM...
Hi Dave,
What kind of new urban legend are you try to start? How to ID a Hertz car with the tach redline set a 3 grand? I am not convinced, but I suppose it is possible.
Interesting
Cory
"Bottom logo " tach means it's after 700ish
He is a Shelby scientist, postulating an interesting theory.
Cool shot. I would guess that the unique positioning of the driver's hands is due to wanting a well-balanced photo design.
Plus, because the driver was the photog, he probably would have burned through a brick of Ektachrome to get a few decent shots...while steering through LA traffic at night.
Ektachrome had a slightly higher ASA than Kodachrome, but sharp night-action shots (undoubtedly with E4 due to the 1968 time period) having good depth of field, from inside a moving car, while driving, isn't the easiest thing to achieve.
I think a skull reflected back at him in the mirror would be super cool. Put it to paint I say.
But let's get back to the initial comment about the brighter instrument lights. Does anyone remember them being that bright when the cars were new?
Could be the long exposure to get all the traffic lights to blur and streak that is making the dash lights brighter.
Cory
Further aside. Was photo originally black and white or color? Now back to NCtrackrat's question. I join. Were they that bright when new?
Quote from: 6s1640 on February 28, 2020, 01:47:43 PM
Could be the long exposure to get all the traffic lights to blur and streak that is making the dash lights brighter.
Cory
My first thought as well. Now how did they keep them from being blurry from all the vibrations caused by driving ?
if the camera was on a short tripod, or other solid base, on the rear seat fold-down the camera and the car are on the same "oscillations" (not hand held) and the road looks pretty smooth, just a thought...
As best as I remember, the dash lights on 550 were pretty bright at night. When I lived in Utah,1969, and drove back and forth to Texas, I do not remember them being dim. l made that trip several times, all at night. Ron
Nice image. I'll look through my pile to see if I have a Feb 68 .
I remember the article it was about the interstate high system. The original picture was in color. My dash lights have always been on the dim side and now as my eyes are getting on the dimmer side, they look worse at night. It is a cool picture
Quote from: gt350hr on February 28, 2020, 12:29:43 PM
"Bottom logo " tach means it's after 700ish
Randy - Excellent point that I also forgot to list in my original post. I was going to say that it being a mid-to-late series car (because of the tach logo position) could lend further credence to the possibility that it could be a Hertz car.
Thanks,
Kieth
Quote from: 2112 on February 28, 2020, 03:05:35 PM
Quote from: 6s1640 on February 28, 2020, 01:47:43 PM
Could be the long exposure to get all the traffic lights to blur and streak that is making the dash lights brighter.
Cory
My first thought as well. Now how did they keep them from being blurry from all the vibrations caused by driving ?
Look at the drivers image in the rear view mirror. It is pretty blurred. The dash is much more large vibration resistant than the mirror. Also notice, that mirror is not an OEM, I expect replaced for the shot.
Cory
Quote from: NC TRACKRAT on February 28, 2020, 01:32:41 PM
But let's get back to the initial comment about the brighter instrument lights. Does anyone remember them being that bright when the cars were new?
NC - Nice! This was the very point of me posting the photo, hoping that it would spark further conversations and recollections...
Thanks,
Kieth
Great image thanks for sharing
I have this Feb. 1968 issue.