Miss Infra-Red Paint Job 1951

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One of the reasons for featuring our famous Friday Lady on these sacred pages simply is the vast amount of photographs showing cars with girls. Classic cars with pretty girls, preferably. Combining the two is as old as the industry itself.

The motoring industry has actually always longed for girls. So when you were unable to become Miss America, Miss Michigan or even Miss Hazleton, Pennsylvania, there was always an auto representative nearby willing to give you a hand by organizing a Beauty Contest somewhat more light-hearted. How about Miss Infra-red Paint Job? Or Miss American Auto Club; Miss New Concept; Miss Auto Accessory or Miss Body and Fender? Is that her mother showing her how to hold up the sign properly? And who is behind her? Could it be Miss Brakes & Clutches, having a giggle?

This fantastic photograph was taken on a place where the motoring industry thrived: an American industrial estate of the early 1950s. You can see signs advertising a car wash and seat covers at the back on the left while there’s a filling station on the right. But it’s the line of workmen that make it unquestionably motoring. They’ve come out of their workshops to have a look at the Misses in that droptop (’51 Oldsmobile we think). Their white overalls still clean and bright – a symbol to America’s innocence of the time perhaps? No, that’s too much. We simply think the picture was taken in the morning with no gearboxes and axles dismantled yet. Back to work chaps.

(Words and archive picture Jeroen Booij)

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