Faded Beauties -

And still glorious.

Painted Ladies San Francisco. Photo: King of Hearts, Wikimedia Commons

Maybe you have seen San Francisco’s Painted Ladies – the Victorian houses across the street from Alamo Square Park for example, or in the Haight Ashbury District, which have been painted with three or more bright colors. They are tourist attractions and have been featured in a number of movies and TV shows. Somehow the ancient car relics that can be found almost everywhere in New Mexico remind me of the Painted Ladies… The owners of these houses which cost many millions of dollars might be offended by the comparison but I hope you’ll share my aesthetics.

This car was parked on a lot in Youngsville. The original paint has been stripped by time and weather and was replaced by more dramatic patterns.

It’s customary in New Mexico to keep old, almost dead, cars somewhere around the house. One never knows when one might need a spare part for the currently working car, or when one has to start the old clunker in an emergency. Except for Santa Fe — the County created an ordinance that makes it unlawful to park cars on the front lawn. It’s considered an eye-sore. However, some of those old relics are actually quite beautiful — some are still in use and are well kept up; others develop a patina of erosion, rust, and decay that I find endlessly fascinating.

A deliberately preserved fire engine from the Regina Volunteer Fire Department. It is indeed noteworthy because it establishes the age of the fire department; the vehicle looks like it’s from the 1940s or 1950s (my guess, I’m not sure). 

Here are some old clunkers I found in Taos:

This one looks as if it was still operational!

Whereas with this one, you wouldn’t get very far.

This picture was taken around Christmas; the car becomes a piece of art!

Notice that there is only metal and wood. Absolutely no plastic yet!

I discovered this beauty off some dirt road in the middle of nowhere. It was used for target practice, quite common here.

This lovingly polished old Chevy was still in use! Seen at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs.

Too old to be driven, but useful for storage and as a feral cat restaurant. Found in a backyard in Arroyo Del Agua.

At the parking lot of Bode’s General  Store in Abiquiú.

Spotted from the train between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Some details from the Chevy.

When I see photographs from Cuba, mainly Havana, I always swoon when I see the old, lovingly maintained cars. The ones in New Mexico are almost as beautiful, if not quite.