Twin GT500's, '31 Cord & 1908 Buick : Back to a local billionaire's estate

[p27rpy]

Here are a few shots of a recent shot featuring (Fraternal) Twin 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500's, a 1931 Cord LaGrande Speedster and a 1908 Buick Model "S"!

If you'd like to see the rest of the set as well as a video of my processing, you can check out my blog. All the cars were in great shape. I wish I could have had a little more creative liberty with the photos, but this is what the client wanted. Oh well!

1968 Shelby Cobra GT500 KR Fastback

The green fastback is a Cobra Jet model with the 428 cubic inch engine that produces nearly 400 horsepower, it was no slouch. I was actually able to ride from the shoot location back in this Mustang and can attest that it is a monster. With its loose steering and an iffy suspension it was probably best to keep it in a straight line, haha.























1968 Shelby GT500 Cobra Convertible

Similar to its green brother, this GT500 also had a 428 cubic inch V8. With a less restrictive exhaust, it started with a loud bark, shaking the entire body side to side like a wet dog before settling into an uneven idle complete with a few pops. When revved, it sounded like an outboard boat motor, deep, burbly and metallic.

While driving it to the shoot location, it became apparent that the steering was a little bit rusty, having not been used in years. It was pretty funny to watch the driver saw at the wheel repeatedly just to stay in his lane, with the wheels barely responding to his commands. As with the previous GT500, it's best driven in a straight line only. With a 4:11 rear end, this car was built for the quarter mile, and revs were up to 4,000 on the freeway in 4th gear.




















1931 Cord L-29 Front Drive LaGrande Speedster

This Cord was one of the most beautiful and striking cars I've ever shot. It is literally impossible to take a bad photograph of this car.





















1908 Buick Model "S" Tourabout

It still starts up today and rolls smoothly as ever - a testament to build quality of the day. The brass accessories on the car are beautiful, and it's awesome to see it side by side with a '68 GT500!

[craigb456]

Very Nice

[kenw]

nice set. the 68 ragtop is a favorite. best friend once had a 69 GT500, the normal steering was incredibly loose, but common for Fords of the era, another friend's Cougar handled almost as sloppily...and a sticky gas pedal on hte GT 500 meant you smoked the tires almost every time whether you wanted to or not.

[danchez]

some beautiful cars, love the roadster. On the front shot of the roadster, maybe clone one of the headlights so they are both the same.

[PhotoByLeal]

awesome cars and GREAT work!!!!

later...

[tukaniray]

Very nice work.

-Ray-

[texxter]

Thanks for sharing these images. I had never seen the 1931 Cord L-29 - it's a beautiful machine - good job photographing them!

[p27rpy]

Originally Posted by kenw

nice set. the 68 ragtop is a favorite. best friend once had a 69 GT500, the normal steering was incredibly loose, but common for Fords of the era, another friend's Cougar handled almost as sloppily...and a sticky gas pedal on hte GT 500 meant you smoked the tires almost every time whether you wanted to or not.

it sounded great with its low restriction exhaust. i suppose it is a fairly common flaw of those era's muscle cars to have non existent handling. it was pretty terrible! but the looks, sound and power of those mustangs sure made up for it!

Originally Posted by danchez

some beautiful cars, love the roadster. On the front shot of the roadster, maybe clone one of the headlights so they are both the same.

i'd probably do that if it weren't for a client. the car needs to be photographed as it currently sits, and i cannot edit out flaws.

Originally Posted by texxter

Thanks for sharing these images. I had never seen the 1931 Cord L-29 - it's a beautiful machine - good job photographing them!

i hadn't either, and was blown away at how good it looked. it's an amazing car for sure.