A few weeks ago, on one of the first sunny Saturdays we’ve had this season, my wife and I decided to cruise over to Staten Island, NY, where we both spent time as youngsters. (I was born and raised there; my wife did the “Western hop”: she was born in Brooklyn, moved to S.I. and then to New Jersey, all before she was out of her teenage years.) Our goal was simply to drive by a few of our old haunts, grab a cultural lunch at an Italian deli, and head back home before it got too late.  

The last thing on my mind was that this visit, my first trip back to The Old Country since the pandemic shutdown started, would turn into a Car Spotter’s Event. But Event it became. I don’t recall noticing this many old cars on the Island during any previous trip. Perhaps most surprising is that two of these cars were parked on the street as if they’re seeing regular daily driver duty.

I grabbed what photos I could, but traffic congestion caused me to miss a few, notably a 1973 Buick Century two-door coupe on a trailer parked on the street; and a Lincoln Continental Mark III in the parking lot at South Beach.

It is also complete coincidence that the two Fords below are the same year, and the Chevy is also the same or within one year of the other two. (Any of you Chevy experts able to distinguish a ’62 from a ’63 from a ’64 Chevy II from the rear?)

This 1963 Ford Falcon convertible (first model year for a Falcon droptop) was parked on Bement Ave. in West Brighton. Looking at Google photos of similar Falcons, I believe that there was a substantial amount of exterior trim along the sides and back which have since gone missing on this one. That top may not be keeping out much moisture, but the car is plated, and looks like one could drop that top and enjoy a sunny ride to the South Shore.

This 1963 Ford Thunderbird hardtop was spotted in a driveway on a side street off Bard Ave. in West Brighton. It hasn’t moved in a while, and its outdoor storage isn’t doing it any favors. From this angle, it appears to be all there, but needs someone with welding skills. It’s the final year of the three-year run of the “Bullet Birds”, a personal favorite.

This 1st generation Chevy II (1962-1964), fuzzy dice and all, was parked on Father Capodanno Blvd. in South Beach. The best I could do for a shot was to pull in behind it and shoot through my windshield. It’s a four-door sedan, and Chevy probably sold a million of these “normal” compacts (compared to the “abnormal” Corvair compacts). The “Godeny” dealer emblem from Carteret NJ (just over the Goethals Bridge) likely means that this car has never left the area.

All photographs copyright © 2021 Richard A. Reina. Photos may not be copied or reproduced without express written permission.