Cars at Virginia Dale, CO c.1935???

[McMalcolm]

Hello...I'm trying to date an vintage postcard of a gas station/post office/cafe at Virginia Dale, Colorado sometime around 1935. There isn't much to date it with except two parked cars. I wonder if someone give me the car make/models and dates to help?

 

Thanks, mcMalcolm

[Carsnz123]

Looking closely I'm tempted to say they are a roadster and sedan version of the same car. 

'31 Desoto CF comes to mind 

[keiser31]

I don't know of any DeSoto with landau bars.

[Carsnz123]

ok, I thought that was a scrape in the photo on my phone. The different body of the same marque still stands. 

 

 

[nzcarnerd]

The cabriolet is a '32 Pontiac.

[Dave Henderson]

'32, the only year in the '30's Pontiac had a V8.

[nzcarnerd]

7 hours ago, Dave Henderson said:

'32, the only year in the '30's Pontiac had a V8.

Yes, used up the last of the Oakland units.   I have been having a closer look and I think both of these cars are 1931 Pontiacs. The convertible is, of course, a convertible coupe and not a cabriolet, to give it its correct title. They used 5.00 x 19 tyres which looks about right for the cars here.

Edited July 3, 2017 by nzcarnerd (see edit history)

[nickelroadster]

The only old gas station that I am familiar with in Virginia Dale was built out of thick granite.  As far as I know the shell is still standing.  Might this be where the pictures were snapped?

[McMalcolm]

It is an old log station that is still on 287, about 5 miles from the WY border. Here is the complete photo, with the cars, and a photo of it from last week.

McMalcolm

[Dave Henderson]

On 7/3/2017 at 4:23 PM, nzcarnerd said:

Yes, used up the last of the Oakland units.   I have been having a closer look and I think both of these cars are 1931 Pontiacs. The convertible is, of course, a convertible coupe and not a cabriolet, to give it its correct title. They used 5.00 x 19 tyres which looks about right for the cars here.

What looks like louvers on the sedan's hood would identify it as not a '32.  Since the side mounted spare blocks the view of the hood side of the convertible,  I think it could be either year, if a '32 it would differ by having hood doors.   '31's and '32's otherwise look the same to me.   '31's were all 6's but '32's came with both 6's and V8's.  I am wondering if the '32 V8 had a longer wheelbase than the 6.  Not that more engine compartment length was needed, but rather to set the car off as more luxurious.  Maybe it's just the perspective, the convertible looks longer to me.

[Guest]

The V8 in the 32 Pontiac was not a left over engine from the Oakland.   Among other things the block was different and the stabilizer arm was on the opposite side.  There were many other differences but I am not going to waste my time looking them all up and listing them.

[nickelroadster]

Not the one I was thinking of but it was nice to see something I hadn't seen since the late seventies.  Thanks.

[nzcarnerd]

7 hours ago, Dave Henderson said:

What looks like louvers on the sedan's hood would identify it as not a '32.  Since the side mounted spare blocks the view of the hood side of the convertible,  I think it could be either year, if a '32 it would differ by having hood doors.   '31's and '32's otherwise look the same to me.   '31's were all 6's but '32's came with both 6's and V8's.  I am wondering if the '32 V8 had a longer wheelbase than the 6.  Not that more engine compartment length was needed, but rather to set the car off as more luxurious.  Maybe it's just the perspective, the convertible looks longer to me.

 

 

1932 Pontiac 6 - 114" wheelbase and 5,25 x 18 tyres. '32 V8 - 117" wheelbase and 6.00 x 17 tyres. The  '31s are on 5.00 x19s which is why I thought these cars were '31s.

[drwatson]

There's a date on the close-up of the tire cover "1933" or "1935"?  Then the number plate on the sedan, Light numerals on dark background could possibly be '1936" for Colorado.