The Holiday Motor tour is held every year in Pasadena. It is a loosely organized deal, with one apparent rule – the cars that go on the tour have to be 1932 or earlier.
This tour epitomizes why I enjoy Classic Cars – It’s a relaxed, pretty drive, with like-minded people who all suffer the same mental condition of being attracted to old cars! And not just any old cars, really old and interesting ones! There are no trophies, no judging – judge not, lest ye yourself be found to not have your slotted head screws lined up! And, being pre-’32, there had better not be any Phillips head screws in evidence!
Here’s a Lancia tourer.
In case you forgot your fire extinguisher
We’ve been informed that this Packard Super 8 745 roadster still carries it’s original lavender paint and upholstery!
Here’s a mid-20’s Cadillac coupe
And a Brass Model T with Acetylene lamps and crank. The steel headlamp case with brass rim and vent make me think this is a 1914. But the “Modern” cowl and louvered hood indicate 1915. I’ll leave that discussion to people who know more about Fords than I do!
WOW! Here is the “Indian” – a 1 of a kind custom, the vision of the owner. Take a minute to look at this, with giant brass headlamps, pontoon fenders, external exhausts and wire wheels. Wild!
Here’s a super rare body style, a Packard 120 Victoria Coupe.
How about a 1929 Bugatti?
No Map for you! The tour organizers enforce the Pre-’32 Rule with the issuance of maps. If you have a postwar car, they can’t keep you out of the parking lot, but they just won’t give you the tour map for the tour on the way out of the parking lot. It’s sort of like the soup guy on Seinfeld – ” No Map for you!!!”
’39 Packard V-12.
What appears to be a hibernating bear in the backseat of this Pierce-Arrow is actually a Raccoon Coat!
A Stanley Steams into the staging area. I was unaware that Santa had traded in the sleigh and reindeer for more modern transportation, but you see it here now!
Here’s a ’29 Cadillac Convertible coupe
Here’s Jay’s Cunningham speedster. If you have to ask who Jay is, then you’re just not paying attention!
Here’s a big old Leland Lincoln – must be pre-’27, not the absence of front brakes!
Stutz Roadster, approx 1920 or so.
The Tire Magnate of Long Beach brought this Crane-Simplex touring car.
Here are the cars rolling into the first stop, a park, where the nice people from EGGE sponsored doughnuts and coffee. EGGE manufactures and supplies lots of mechanical components for our old cars.
Photographers can be really annoying, such as when they step right in front of slow moving traffic to get the shot!
1913 or so Packard Touring. That’s how mellow this tour is, you can bring your dog, too!
Stop for a minute and look at the profile of this car – note the height and Slant of the windshield. Whoever ordered this body from Walter Murphy originally must have told them ” I want it to look like the advertisement!” And, the Advertisement for the Duesenberg Murphy roadster showed an almost impossibly low windshield !
the only stock and un-rodded 1932 Ford coupe left in existence!
Here’s another great preservation car, a 1927 Packard Touring, with Right hand drive, sold new in Argentina.
a 1932 Lincoln KB LeBaron roadster. This is the car that was on the “Pawn Stars” show, now owned by a prominent local collector.
A Jeffery. Hardcore – and I mean really hardcore – AMC enthusiasts will know that Jeffery was built in Kenosha, and was a distant ancestor of American Motors. More stuff that nobody really needs to know, but it’s stuck in my head anyway!!
A beautiful Lincoln “L” Judkins Coupe.
What antique car event would be complete without a Locomobile?
Note the Mother In Law Seat on this Ford Roadster!
Here’s a lovely ’28 Cadillac dual cowl Phaeton
The Motorcyle dudes make a big showing at the Holiday motor tour, too!
In our final shot, we see the Bear family coming out of hibernation in their Pierce-Arrow! The reason the coats were on the seats and not on the people was the temperature – about 70 degrees and sunny. Just to rub it in a little bit for our eastern friends!