Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: May 1st, 2008
RED FORD AT THE RANCH HOUSE, SOMEWHERE, CA, 1962
The mid-morning sky is moody blue with high clouds. The Ranch Kitchen Coffee Shop looks like a ranch house complete with a front porch and shuttered windows. The signage is friendly, casual and very inviting. Dining room and kitchen quality and cleanliness are insured by the AAA logo.
A not-so-weeping weeping willow matches the leafy and shady green tones of the oh-so-proud poser’s short sleeved and straight skirted plaid dress. She beams with contentment and joy as she holds the door handle of her very photogenic posing partner, a sparkling brand new 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 four-door hardtop. Pillows cluttering the package tray and a sunshade in the side window suggest that the rear seat doubles as a bedroom.
The morning-sun-soaked lipstick red finish is spectacular. The Ford’s sleeker than sleek side spear and flat rear window are a stark contrast to wide spear and wraparound rear window of the already out-of-date 1958 Pontiac sitting beside it.
And why wouldn’t this woman be beaming from ear to ear? She’s got a ranch house breakfast-filled tummy and a racy red Ford to take her wherever she wants to go.
Here’s to the lady, her ‘62 Ford, Ranch House breakfast and YOU!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
May 2008
11 Comments on “RED FORD AT THE RANCH HOUSE, SOMEWHERE, CA, 1962”
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May 1st, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I don’t know charles… that looks suspiciously like the ranch something or other (house? kitchen?) in beaumont - which is fabulous, if you haven’t been. they’ve done their tables in a gold-leaf-or-something-like-it-imprisoned-in-resin look, which compliments the brown banquettes in a breathtaking way. it deserves a breakfast stop on the way to palm springs.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Hi Charles! Guess what? It’s not in CA, it’s on Route 66 in Gallup, NM. So, this is a road trip pic (yay vintage road trips!) And…best of all, it’s still open!!!
Link to another vintage image:
http://www.theroadcorys.net/chapter12/12ch00.html
Now:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g47042-d511902-Reviews-Ranch_Kitchen-Gallup_New_Mexico.html
Sounds great–next southwest road trip, I’m going there for breakfast!
May 1st, 2008 at 8:38 pm
This is a wonderful picture. Note how carefully the photographer positioned himself or herself to almost completely eliminate the green plaid-clad woman’s shadow from the shot, leaving the car fully lit by the sun!
May 1st, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Wow, simple pleasures! I used to wish that I was alive back then.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Is that Paso Robles, CA? I remember eating at a ranch style restaurant when I was a little girl there called Wilson’s.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
THERE IS A RANCH KITCHEN IN GALLUP,NEW MEXICO. IT IS ALONG THE HISTORIC ROUTE 66. IT SHUT IT’S DOORS BACK IN 2005 DUE TO LACK OF BUSINESS. THIS COULD BE THAT PLACE. IT DOES LOOK LIKE THE RED FORD MAY BE ON A ROAD TRIP. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SUN SHADE IN THE REAR PASSENGERES WINDOW AND SOME WHITE STUFF IN THE BACK SEAT? THE VEHICLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PONTIAC LOOKS TO HAVE LUGGAGE ON THE TOP OF THE CAR TOO.
TOP ALL THAT WITH THE AAA SIGNAGE ?? MAYBE !!
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
RANCH KITCHEN FOUND!!!! IT’S ON ROUTE 66 IN GALLUP, NEW MEXICO. YES, I WAS WRONG TO ASSUMING IT WAS IN CA. MORE ABOUT IT AT: http://chefmoz.org/United_States/NM/Gallup/Ranch_Kitchen1034825877.html
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
A quick internet search brought up this link:
http://professionaltravelguide.com/inn-at-harris-ranch/hotels-550438
Below the map, under Restaurants On-site Dining, it lists The Ranch Kitchen Coffee Shop!
Sounds like a road trip is in order. Only 200 miles from LA!!
Keep up the great work! Love those slides…
May 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Ah yes, as the self appointed Ford expert, I will expound on this model. We have the 4 doors with the hardtop look pioneered by GM in 1955. When all windows are rolled down, there is no center post. Also, this model continues the Ford tradition of 2 large round taillites.
Started in 1952, with one abberation in 1960 when Ford spies peeked at the 1959 Chevy and decided they needed batwing taillites to compete. Great slide, Charles.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Is slides like these that make me dream I was back in time, taking a road trip across country… my parent used to do it all the time back in the forties and fifties and there were GREAT pictures from their trips! Ah, to dream!
May 13th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
My friend Charles. I’d like to cross US with this car