Ive been on photobucket for a while now and I decided to take part in the prints they sell. While looking I saw they had a canvas print sell going on so I thought maybe I will get my old color photo of the Ford dealership my '56 came from that was taken in '57/'58. I couldn't get it on any size other than 10"x20" which was $99.95 for the canvas print with a black border. But with the sale going on of 80% off I got it for around $20 with the s&h.


The print came in today and below is a picture of the print still in its wrapper. I wont be removing it from the wrapper till after I move and I am able to hang it till then it will be well protected in the box and in the bag.

 

Very cool---the photo AND the cars too!

That's one hella great "sale" price---80% off?

 

Yep 80% off, the code was TGIAF (Thank God Its Almost Fall) and it was 80% off. Was the only reason I purchased it. I wouldn't spend $100 for this but I also wouldn't sell it for less than $100 if someone wanted to buy it.


I was going to do a couple others but I decided to put it off till my '56 is finished then I want to duplicate the photo above using my '56 and do a 10x20 print in color showing today. The dealership building is still standing but where the front door is on the dealership in this photo theres a sign "Lola`s" and its a diner. Then theres a fitness center and some other stuff housed in the original building that they redid in a retro look.


Only thing though for thoses that might consider getting a print done, be careful cause the site states that they wont warranty prints that look bad due to a bad photo. I was kind of afraid this photo wouldn't stretch right to fit a 10x20 canvas print which was all I could use as the image could not be shrunk down but it could be blown up. I wanted as much of the original picture as possible I had to sacrifice about 1/8" of the blue sky at the top of the picture but I like how it came out as it puts the dealership actually in the center of the print making it more of the focal point.

 

With today's photo technology even if the former dealership is surrounded by less retro looking buildings and such that could be edited out and make the submitted photo an almost exact replication of the photo used for your print.

If that comes to pass I'd look around for an amateur Photoshop editor or creative-type, flip 'em a few bucks to either post-produce your finished image or have them accompany you to the actual site when you're ready to shoot.

Sounds like a lot of work for just one photo but a project like restoring a '56 deserves no less, IMHO anyway.

 

I agree, I would love to have the above photo altered. Have the yellow banner replaced to say "56" instead and edit out both vehicles place the front end of one '56 maybe a T-bird then my '56 with the profile shot. Not sure how good it would turn out but I figured at the very least I would just park the car and photo it in front of the building now.


The nice thing is they were smart and did the place retro without bulldozing the place down. Below is a picture of how the same building looks today.


Well photo wont embed but here the direct link.


http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps4ytjjhtz.jpg

 

Oh yeah----with the current look of the building a good high-pixel image taken on-site with your finished car parked outside could be easily edited to great results.

I'd maybe contact a local camera shop and describe what you'd like to do---they'll know someone more than willing to work for a few dollars.

Hope this all works out---cool looking building then and now!

 

It is, I am just glad that they kept it. The dealership my '63 came from was abandoned years ago then bulldozed down for homes. Never did get the car finished not even today so cant do a photo there.


The only reason this place survived I think is because it became a Big Bonus Stamps after the dealership moved and became Russell & Smith and then after Big Bonus Stamps it became an Eckards for years till they closed down then it was abandoned for a while then they remodeled it now its a dinner on one end which used to be the main entrance for the dealership and some other small stores to the side one is a fitness center as well.


It also helps that its in the historic district where they fight to preserve.

 

Here in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio we've lost a lot of great past architecture in the name of "progress", long before preserving such things became hip and cool. Were it not for a few forward-thinking individuals or groups our Ohio Theater, original downtown main post office and The Southern Theater would have long ago vanished.

Besides being spectacular examples of by-gone eras they also hosted near-historic events such as Abraham Lincoln speaking in The Southern Theater.

That list goes on but see where we once were is important I think---not to mention downright cool too!

 

Like the old song says...pave paradise...put up a parking lot!!!

 

For sure, that's why I think it would be great if we could organize just once a event at this location for Ford only vehicles preferably 1953 through 1959. It would be an even bigger plus if the vehicle was originally sold from this location at that time.


But it will never happen as the businesses would have to be shut down for a day to use the parking lot and they are not going to do that.


Which makes it very hard for me as I have to find a day when they are not open and no one is there as I want no vehicles in the background when I do my photo.