ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Mark, your detective work is impressive!

I was sure you were right, but I wanted to have fun verifying-or-refuting your conclusion with any evidence I could find, so I did some research.

Naturally, the Citroen certainly argues for the idea that this is in France.

However, I found very few images of churches in France that had the white exterior we see in the painting, which is what made me think this might be Mexico, based on all those white Spanish missions in that country.

But the elaborate architecture of the church certainly doesn't look like an old mission. And it seems to fit many different countries, such as this amazing church in Noire, Colombia and the second one in Italy.







I wondered if the palm trees we see might be a clue. Unfortunately, palm trees are common in the temperate zones of France, Italy, Mexico, and South America.

Lastly, I wondered if Pontiacs were sold in Europe. Here's what I found on Wikipedia.
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Sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico by GM, in the hierarchy of GM's five divisions, it was slotted above Chevrolet, but below Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac.
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It seems unlikely that a couple would take their Pontiac on vacation to France. But driving it down to Mexico would be as easy as knocking back a few tequilas!

However, setting the painting in France would be even easier than that for Fitzpatrick and Kaufman, because the whole idea was to portray Pontiacs in any exotic location they wanted. (After all, even though I haven't painted in years, my artistic license still hasn't expired.)

So, it's entirely possible that your theory as to what location the painting is supposed to portray is quite valid.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[mach7]

Yah, Mexico actually works better for the location and I have seen 2CV's in Mexico. The road sign works for Mexico also.

However, I would like to still grasp at a straw and force the location to France.

Lets say that the man is a US military (Air Force Captain, Pilot of course) stationed in Europe. He had the military move his beautiful new Pontiac Grand Prix over with him when he was based there. He was Probably based at Chaumont AFB in eastern France.

Maybe his beautiful wife is A french girl he married while stationed in Beautiful France

[Morbius]

Took me awhile to find the photo. A great fun car, 400 blue printed engine, 750 cfm carb, etc. About 10 miles/gallon.

[mach7]

Do you still have it?

Nice blacked out grill and bumpers!

What HP? 400?

[Morbius]

Wish I still had it as impactable as it was with the gas milage. As to hp it would bury the speedometer. raced a GTO once till a cop stopped us. The good ole days.

[mach7]

WOW!
Goovy ad!

[Bud Brewster]

[mach7]

I've not seen it but I'll have to check it out.
A Futura in Italy! That should be fun on the Italian city streets.

[scotpens]

[mach7]

DOH!

How did I miss that it was Spain!

But as you said, the effect is the same!

Back in 1986 when I was in the Air Force I had the opportunity to drive a full sized Chevy 2500 crew cab pickup
on some smaller A roads in the UK. I returned it to the motor pool without the right side mirror. The motor pool SGT just laughed and said it happens all the time.

Big US cars don't fit well on small streets.

[mach7]

215 turbocharged HP from a 215 CI engine! Back in the '60s!

That kind of technology makes John Q Driver VERY happy!
The look on Susie Q Passenger's face is of pure ecstasy! The fact that John can handle that much raw speed and power thrills Susie Q!
Obviously Buying the Olds is making John much more attractive to Susie! Giving Creedence the the adds effectiveness.

[Morbius]

On an engine stand in my back yard I have a 350 olds engine from a 71 cutlas in case the one in my El Camino craps out.
Great engine lots of power and good gas milage.


No computer needed.

[mach7]

Actually the 215 Turbo V8 should fit nicely in my 1979 MGB.

215 HP vs 80 HP.

Hmmmmm.

That engine did not survive long so I'm guessing it had longevity issues.

EDIT:

My stock MGB 1800 4cyl weighs in at 400 pounds for 80ish HP.
The Olds 215, sans Turbocharger, weighs in at 320 Pounds for
155 HP. Maybe its time to start looking for an old 215.

Double DOH!
The Buick version of the 215 is actually the engine Rover put in the V8 MGB!

[Bud Brewster]

God lord, I love this one!

The artwork suggests an exotic local, rich in both history and romance. I can't help wondering it this another example of an ad that depicts a Pontiac in a European location — even though Pontiacs weren't sold in Europe.

But the ad copy is what tickled my fancy.

Notice the sly way it employs romantic imagery, and it even connects parts of the car with the driver's own anatomy!

"We're nothing if not anxious to help you loose your heart to our new Grand Prix."

"A throttle that connects you to our 389 cubic-inch 382 HP Trophy V8 . . . "

This last one is a beautiful attempt to put the man of the house into the "captain's chair" — ala Kirk and the Enterprise!

"You'll find a pair of deep bucket seats up front, separated by a handy control console."

Gentlemen, I salute the Age of the American Man — the 1960s and the amazing automobiles we were privileged to drive.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

Dammit, I can't find the ad that used this gorgeous Art Fitzpatrick & Van Kaufman masterpiece, but the message is clear!

Here's what the artwork says to me.
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The active lifestyle of Man of the Sixties includes a fast trip along a coastal road to a rendezvous in lonely cove with the captain of yacht who will take you and your lovely female companion to beautiful island locations for a weekend in a small beach-side hotel.

Candle-lit dinners in a fine restaurant, and then walks along a sandy beach bathed in Moonlight.

And it all started with white-knuckled ride along a curving coastal road in a Pontiac GTO!
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Guys, now do you see why I love these magazine ads? Those ad guys were my kind of people — my Brothers From Another Mother!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)