Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Pretty Good Looking For A Centenarian

Yesterday Judy at Prescott Daily Photo showed this classic car. It reminded me of this 1914 Ford. I saw it downtown in the spring, and took several shots, showing one of them back in May. This is another take from the series. I have seen the Ford a couple of other times since then. The owner, who you can see beside it, must have a shop or business down here. 

The building in the background, incidentally, is Mercury Court. I should have gone inside for Doors Open; the place apparently has a few visual treats inside,  including the Swedish embassy. The building is topped by a sculpture of the Roman god Mercury (Hermes to those of us who prefer the Greek version). 



52 comments:

  1. Now that is a very good looking centenarian. Wish I could look that good when I am one hundred, if I make it to that milestone. Have you taken any pictures of Hermes yet? Would love to see both the statue and inside the building.

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  2. I'd be too terrified to drive a jewel like this around on the streets !

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  3. The title for this post is perfect :)

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  4. That car is old, but ... at a glance appears to be very well kept.

    Tomás.

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  5. Now that's riding in style. Of course, judging from the almost complete lack of suspension underneath, the ride also must have been bone-jarring, especially in the days before paved roads. :-)

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  6. A pretty car, can't imagine they were riding in the roads, so open.

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  7. Hundred years old... but it looks like new.

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  8. @Anita: I have not, though I should do so before winter sets in.

    @Stuart: it almost seems too precious to drive.

    @Anna: thanks!

    @Bill: yes, quite a rarity.

    @Tomas: I'm sure the driver only takes it out on the best of days, and it's kept in heated storage all winter long.

    @Revrunner: it reminds me of a documentary Ken Burns did called Horatio's Drive, about a doctor who made a fifty dollar bet in 1903 that he could drive across America in a car.

    @Marianne: it's certainly the oldest car I've ever seen.

    @Luis: thanks!

    @Hilary: I thought so.

    @Karl: the owner's taken great care of it.

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  9. Fine photo of a gorgeous vintage vehicle, William.

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  10. I'll have to ck out that Burns' documentary, Rev.

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  11. just awesome! and i'd be terrified to leave it parked on the street!

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  12. Oh yes! That is a beauty. We have a neighbor that has an antique car but he keeps it safe in the garage most of the time.

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  13. Cool. There is never enough time at Doors Open to see everything!

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  14. Another beauty that has been lovingly restored and maintained.

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  15. I wouldn't mind taking a ride in that beauty!

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  16. @Lynette: thanks!

    @Birdman: it's a fun documentary, actually, has a great sense of humour to the tale.

    @Tex: my parents knew a couple who had a large heated garage on their country property that could store somewhere from eight to ten cars. They rented the space out to people with cars like this that wanted them kept somewhere safe and dry.

    @Judy: this is not a car you leave in the elements, after all.

    @Jackie: not with over a hundred places participating.

    @Sharon: the owner's taken great care keeping it in fine form.

    @Stefan: I assume there have had to be replacement parts, which these days would have to be custom made.

    @Lois: I'd like it too!

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  17. An amazing car, and a perfectly kept one!

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  18. Love these old cars! A shame you didn't get inside Mercury Court during the Doors Open event.

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  19. My dad loved old cars--classic old cars, that is. He would have given anything to have this one!

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  20. Super shot of a beautiful classic. The owner must be a little camera shy :).

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  21. What a beauty! I wonder how many of these there are still around in this almost mint condition!

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  22. 100 years old! It looks amazing and brand new. Very nice photo of it...

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  23. What a wonderful old car. It's quite risky to drive with it in the daily traffic, I think, not to mention patking it in the middel of the city.

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  24. I really don't know much of them, but it's such a pleasure to see a classic car like this one. Nice shot!

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  25. Wow.. that's a beauty. I would be afraid to take it anywhere... much less leave it parked.

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  26. In my dreams William, in my dreams.

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  27. @VP: you couldn't ask for it to be in better shape.

    @Cheryl: there's always next year.

    @Norma: it's certainly the oldest I've ever seen in a car.

    @Lauren: he was more interested in tending to the car!

    @Ciel: there can't be many of them left.

    @Pat: thanks!

    @Marleen: thank you.

    @Beth: I'm not usually one for cars, but this one's a winner.

    @Hilary: I think I'd be very careful with it!

    @EG: it definitely is.

    @Denise: mine too!

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  28. What a beauty! the owner is probably used to having many admirers with cameras.

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  29. That's a gem! I'd be afraid to leave it parked on the street.

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  30. gorgeous!! i would be afraid to take this outside!

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  31. That's a spectacular car! I'll bet it never looked so good even when it was bright and new. A true labor of love!

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  32. @Hamilton: no doubt!

    @Linda: that seems to be a common impression.

    @Mari: it is!

    @Tanya: if something happened to it... it's not like you can just replace something like this.

    @Kay: the owner definitely loves this one!

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  33. Speaking of chickens and eggs ... which you weren't ... which came first, the name of the building or the statue atop? The "why" is probably because Mercury is the god of merchants. So which rapacious developer thought this link was a goer, and when? Shame they did not use the Greek name, as they would have been assured of at least one tennant.

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  34. look at the crowd wants to see her! could barely elbow my wayi into comments!

    Worth it. Totally. I love vintage machinery of all sorts

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  35. Grand old car!
    Next Open Doors I guess we expect you to go inside more. LOL!
    MB

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  36. good looking car, loved by the owner.

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  37. What a great looking car, William, and obviously it well kept up by its owner. Imwondered if it had a top as well.

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  38. That's a sweet car! Almost time for people to put them away for winter!

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  39. The owner surely puts a lot of love (and effort and money!) into keeping this old car looking so good.

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  40. @Randy: thanks!

    @Julie: I think the building's name dates to after they brought the statue here. The statue was elsewhere in the city. The architecture firm that has quarters inside redid the building, which back in its original state was a department store.

    @Jenny: this one's the oldest I've ever seen.

    @Cloudia: she was a beauty!

    @MB: I've been inside once.

    @Kreig: definitely!

    @Gunn: very much so.

    @Beatrice: probably out of sight.

    @Jennifer: now as well as that year.

    @Angie: definitely!

    @Jack: indeed.

    @Mariusz: original. I imagine if it needs repairs, he has to go for a specialist, and they might have to customize replacement parts.

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