See the lovely lady in that picture up there? The one leaning on the car designed by heirs to a bobby pin fortune, the Gaylord Gladiator? I’ve been told by our editor-in-chief, my co-founder of this website, my pickup truck donator, friend, and grammar bully David Rustworth Tracy that the woman in that picture there, a picture taken around 1955, is his “dream girl.” If anyone knows just who this likely now-octogenarian woman is, please reach out.
There she is again, waving charmingly from behind the wheel of that striking and strange car, one that David himself wrote about in a lot of detail last year, but so far we’ve not been able to identifiy her.
I think we may be able to guess the rough time and place of the photograph, though; the Gaylord Gladiator’s Brooks Stevens-designed neoclassical body was built by the coachbuilder Spohn of Germany. The first version had those massive tri-bar Lucas P-100 headlights, and those only appeared on the first two prototypes built (five chassis were eventually built, and three got bodies). Later cars – well, car, singular – had less exuberently-sized quad headlights.
So, this is one of the first prototypes made, likely the first, so that’d put the picture at 1955, and the location could be either Germany, where it was built, but perhaps also somewhere around Paris, where it was shown at the Paris Auto Show.
I think she’s French, personally, but I can’t really prove that, or anything. Something about the dress and general fashion sense feels more Parisienne than Teutonic.
The Gladiator is a remarkable car, with Cadillac V8 power, power hardtop convertible roof, A/C, that striking design, really, just read David’s comprehensive story here, which includes a shockingly deep sidetrack into Bobby Pin tech.
The whole point of this post is to get David in a good mood for the day and put the word out to anyone that might recognize the woman in those pictures there that David would like to meet your grandmother, if that’s her.
If it’s her, I’m just about positive he’d love to take her to dinner, at least. Even if it’s at 4:30 in the afternoon and he has to put her walker in the back of his Jeep.
Damn! Look at those headlights!
It’s easy to forget that David is not an old man. There’s just something about his vehicles and the hats he wears that makes me think he is about 60 years old. JK david is awesome.
One thing is for sure, that lady was absolutely *rocking* that dress. It’s fantastic on so many levels.
Side note: The car looks so surprised. lol
Wasn’t she the blue alien that Kirk seduced to save the Enterprise?
Like Kirk ever needed an excuse to sling that dick in every corner of known space…
Good Lord Gaylord,
Which German football pitch did you steal those grandstand lights from?
Blimey! Look at that pair of headlamps!
Obviously I mean the ones on the car, you dirty sods.
I dunno… based on that top photo, I suspect she might be the leader of a ring of notorious hood ornament thieves. Sure, you’d have that one magical night in Prague, but then she’d set you up to take the fall and you’d end up in a Swiss jail cell trying to explain to Interpol that, no, that duffel bag full of Spirits of Ecstasy in the back of your Cherokee aren’t actually yours.
“Psst. Hey. You want some Ecstacy?” *opens trench coat*
Ah, the famous BMW Corvette Batmobile
Let’s hope this turns out better than Michael’s search for the chair model on The Office.
The first photo, where the attractive model is touching the proportionally undersized hood ornament, “Look isn’t it cute!”
Gentlemen, to the time machine!
Gaylord…
That car looks like some goofy thing someone made in a shed in the backyard.
No, this one has been professionally screwed up.A mere amateur couldnt make it that awkward
All I can think about when I look at the front of that car is how they really didn’t think through where dirt/mud/rocks were going to go after being picked up by the front wheels. Or maybe the car was designed by someone who owned a detailing business? Between the WHITE front inner fenders and that expanse of chrome on the back, this car would need thorough cleaning after every drive to not look like crap.
That’s a lovely girl on a questionable car. Been a Brooks Stevens fan for a long time, but never warmed to that design (the car, not the girl). I’ll have to read DT’s article on it (again, the car, not the girl).
This car looks like it came out of a Loony Toones cartoon. It’s definitely those headlights.
Well, would you look at that! What a sight! And the young lady is attractive as well, I suppose.
On my list of things I’m looking for in a partner, #1 has always been: “Demonstrates a thorough appreciation for the Gaylord Gladiator.”
This has made things a bit… tricky, I’ll admit, but I can’t make compromises. Not on something that important.
Age is just a number…but a Gaylord Gladiator is a Gaylord Gladiator. Priorities, you’ve got ’em.
…and a pencil skirt never hurts!
#2, Understands that car guys go for big headlights 🙂
Jason is more of a taillight guy
“David Rustworth Tracy”
Well, shit. This whole time I thought that his middle name was Rusterford.
I could’ve sworn it was Rustavious.
Oh wait I forget his German influence.
The birth certificate must read David Rustmeister Tracy
And that his favorite actor was Kurt Rustell.
He was looking forward to the movie Rust until Baldwin shot a lady on the set. 🙁
And then he flipped back to the Oxygen channel.
And his favorite singer is Rusty Springfield 😉
Favorite Neil Young album: Rust Never Sleeps
What anout Bonnie Raitt’s “Diamonds and Rust”?
And his favorite movie character is Ferrous Bueller
‘My, what big headlights you have!’
“The whole point of this post is to get David in a good mood for the day and put the word out to anyone that might recognize the woman in those pictures there that David would like to meet your grandmother, if that’s her.”
This has me dying of laughter for some reason. Thank you for helping me start my workday with a laugh.
I believe we’ve found the inspiration for the Lexus grills
Well, there goes my plan of donning a tuxedo and draping myself languidly across the hood of the Allante to catch David’s eye. I can’t compete with her (I don’t look nearly as good in heels).
Tracy, if you don’t score soon the picture is not the only thing that will turn blue. (your friend Beavis)
Huh-huh huh. I’m gonna’ smack you Beavith.
At least they showed some restraint with the amount of chrome on the rear, am I right?
She looks like an old ex of mine, as it goes.
Choose your words carefuly Mr. Torchinsky, for if those massive satellite dishes were taillights, she’d surely be YOUR dream girl, too.
https://c.tenor.com/zpxzhuJx2ycAAAAC/harrumph-fiends.gif