donutsweeper: (Default)
donutsweeper ([personal profile] donutsweeper) wrote2008-01-11 01:31 pm

What classic car would Jack drive?

Just wondering what you all think.  For a story set sometime in America in the 50's (or maybe early 60's I haven't quite decided yet) what car would Jack have rented/borrowed/etc?

eta- probably 50's instead of 60's come to think of it
One suggested is the Studebaker Starliner 


[identity profile] matsujo9.livejournal.com 2008-01-11 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Me either! That's my factoid for the day!

And that's not a bad thing, your readers will appreciate your work!

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2008-01-11 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
adding to your factoid "In 1916, a Nebraskan named Joe Saunders was supposedly the first person to start a rent-a-car business". WOW. who knew?

I seriously have gone off the deep end though, hunting down little facts to support the story is easier than writing it... (although, as of this morning, 3k down and only 17k to go!)

[identity profile] matsujo9.livejournal.com 2008-01-11 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Not me! LOL

I kind of love doing research like that.

If you want a sort-of quick visual reference:

1950s- http://www.allposters.com/-st/1950s-Cars-Posters_c79271_.htm
1960s- http://www.allposters.com/-st/1960s-Cars-Posters_c79294_.htm

Of course, there's no way of knowing which of these would have been available to rent, but at least you can get a general idea of what was out there.

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2008-01-11 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
well, I suppose I could say Torchwood 'arranged' for Jack to have a car and not specify if it was rented or bought or whatever.

Which of those could you picture Jack in?

[identity profile] matsujo9.livejournal.com 2008-01-11 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, some of that depends what kind of undercover work he's doing.

In general, I'd think something not *too* flashy but still powerful.

1950s - I agree with the suggestion of the Studebaker Starliner. If you want something a little more sport the Chevorlet Corvettes were fantastic.

http://www.supanet.com/access/index/motoring/car_gallery/gallery/281/1/gallery.html

For the 1960s- I could see him in a muscle car like a '67 Shelby or the Corvette Coupe. Even a Camaro or a Mustang...

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2008-01-11 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I think you and [livejournal.com profile] airelin might be onto something here. a little flash, but no too 'in your face'

[identity profile] matsujo9.livejournal.com 2008-01-11 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep!

[identity profile] aeron-lanart.livejournal.com 2008-01-11 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
My grandad ran the equivalent of a rent-a-car business between WWI and WWII in Liverpool, only he drove the cars as many people didn't know how, as well as fixing them! My dad was 8 at the outbreak of WWII and was basically growing up inside car engines!

My grandad was lucky to be invalided out of WWI at the Ist Ypres, it saved his life. Being in the army had given him the training to deal with broken down engines so the garage was the best thing he could think of. Up until about 3 years ago, the site of my grandad's garage was still car related, being a petrol station.

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2008-01-11 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm amazed by people who understand the workings of what goes on under the hood/bonnet of a car. I can put gas/petrol in. That's it.