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Andra Watkins

Sex With Cars

MTM used to race cars. With people who went on to become actual NASCAR drivers. He worked as a mechanic through high school and college, when his prized possession was a 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass W-31. (I had to google it too, Dear Reader.) So. Why did I find myself in a museum exhibit called "Dream Cars" last week? Alone??

MTM used to race cars. With people who went on to become actual NASCAR drivers. He worked as a mechanic through high school and college, when his prized possession was a 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass W-31.

(I had to google it too, Dear Reader.)

So.

Why did I find myself in a museum exhibit called “Dream Cars” last week?

Alone??

Snapping photographs of sexy rear fenders and cone bra headlights and phallic rocket rides?

I still don’t know.

Maybe it was to understand my favorite photograph of my husband. Leaning on the back end of a race car. The words “We Ain’t Afraid” painted on the tail, clashing with his Greg Brady permanent-waved hair. MTM in polyester, holding a trophy, while lightning flashes in the background.

I keep it in my desk drawer. Sometimes I drag it out and whisper, “Who are you?”

He forbids me to show you that picture, Dear Reader. You’ll just have to imagine it from my description.

I visited the High Museum of Art in Atlanta to view an exhibit of works by a forgotten photographer, and I found an orgy of engine and chrome, rubber and wood, leather and steel.

Snapsnapsnap.

It was the music of vroomvroomvroom.

I thought I would despise it.

And still I came. Or went. Or whatever.

To view my photographs of Dream Cars from the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, click here: Andra Watkins Tumblr

http://youtu.be/Ldyx3KHOFXw

This post is part of a series. To read the first post, click here: Desperately Seeking a Shepherd; to read the second post, click here: College Football? What a Waste of Time!; to read the third post, click here: Promiscuous Read: The Plover by Brian Doyle.

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58 Comments

  1. Great fun post and you have certainly mastered the art of the catchy blog title…drew me in like a moth >|<

  2. Great photos from the High Museum of the cars Andra. I would have been doing the same thing. Tom doesn’t/didn’t race, but, is an old car buff and thus have I grown an interest an appreciation for fender skirts and sexy machines. 🙂 Ah, the boys and their toys, but, hey, isn’t life fun?

    1. My dream car is a 1969 red Mustang convertible with a white top. MTM said it would cease to be my dream car after four hours of driving it……….so I continue to dream.

  3. Great post, and interesting title!! It draws you in 🙂

  5. Amazingly, I can understand that fascination with cars. Chrome and leather and classic lines and power. And the smell of gasoline and oil. Yup, does it for me. Somehow amazed that the architect who is MTM has a passion for American muscle cars. Seems he would appreciate something more – minimalist.

    1. MTM bought this car before he was a full-fledged architect. I wish he still had it.

  7. i was looking forward to the pic of course, but understand his wish to keep it under wraps. cars can be like a religion or passion to some, and i see that each year at our huge ‘woodward dream cruise’ on a road that was our main strip for cruising and racing back in the day. mtm would probably love it. nice pics andra –

    1. It was a really fun exhibit for all ages. If it travels up your way, definitely go and take the grands.

  8. Wow. Some of those cars were quite . . . er . . . pointy.
    My dad used to drag us to the auto show every year.

    1. My favorite was the Bugatti. Because, of course, I like curves as a non-minimalist.

  9. I have only recently gained an appreciation for muscle cars. From the last few posts it seems like you’re really trying to step outside your comfort zone — good for you, darling.

  10. Ah the Cutlass, when I was in high school I had a college-aged beau who took me out doing doughnuts on icy roads in his bronze, convertible Cutlass — scared me silly. But, the guy and the car were a team. Most guys that I’ve really adored had a thing for cars (and that includes my dear husband who loves cars and with whom I watch lots of shows about cars and motorcycles.). And perhaps I picked a number of my teen crushes (solely) for their cars? I don’t know, but I had a number of crushes: a 1973 Porshe 914, a 1975 Corvette Stingray, a 1970 MG Midget, the aforementioned Cutlass…and I must say, I adored them all. Drove them fast myself. Maybe I loved the cars more than the guys?

    I’m a closet car lover. Mostly I’m drooling these days over 1960s Mercedes. Of particular lust these days for me–any early Mercedes W111 (body style) cabriolet or a late 1960s Mercedes 280SL.

    1. Kevin Eberle has that red convertible Mercedes, and I have such envy over that car. It’s the only one in town. Have you seen it?

  11. MTM clearly has exquisite taste – in both women and cars. I hope to acquire a 1969 Chevy Camaro someday – maybe the SS, but not the RS because I don’t like the covered headlights and grill package. The creases coming off the front wheel arches are a master stroke (just ask Mercedes about their first gen CLS).

    1. I hope MTM can exercise his passion for cars again someday. Right now, he’s more of a two-wheeled guy, but I’ve seen him out in the yard, all greasy and dirty from working on the truck he used to have, and it was kinda sexy. 🙂

  12. This is a great post. For one thing, I can totally see MTM in a NASCAR-style racing outfit, posing by a racecar with the helmet under one arm, a smile on his face . . . I get that. For another, I think it has inspired a post idea, and for that I thank you, Andra. 🙂

  13. Born in Detroit, means I have the auto gene. I love them and would be one of those wackos who have a hundred. (of course, I need a little more money to do it)

    1. Some of the cars in this exhibit are owned by some of those wackos. 🙂

  14. Great title, post and car photos. I just watched a movie last night where Cameron Diaz has sex with a car (The Counselor). Eew.

      2. That means you wont like her latest movie “Sex Tape”. Katy and I went to see it and laughed and laughed. Sure, it had some “adult moments” but it had some funny stuff too.

  15. the 1970 Cutlass 442 has always been near the top of my dream car lists….so yeah, once again MTM and I are about on the same page for that! What amazing cars truly, always great to see another person who prefers a Cutlass when most people who want an A body care seem to prefer Chevelles or GTO’s. I always dug the Cutlass more! Back in high school I had a buddy with a 1970 Chevelle and I had an 87 Camaro. I went out and took photos of his car downtown and on our way back home on the interstate we decided to light it up a bit so once I had a good lead on him I decided to add insult to injury and take a photo of me winning:

    http://systemaddikt.deviantart.com/art/the-race-585516

  16. As a teen, I think the only car I truly drooled over was the Triumph TR3, probably ’59 or ’60 vintage, that a female classmate drove. I’m not sure why I didn’t have more of a thing for cars though, since our Dad certainly had a passion for trading them, sometimes not infrequently. 🙂

    As a Hoosier, I am today proud to boast of things such as: http://www.automobilemuseum.org/ and: http://www.studebakermuseum.org/ and, of course: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_500 Michigan isn’t the only state hereabouts with an automobile history!

    I, too, am disappointed not to see MTM’s other life photo, and it’s difficult to superimpose the image you have painted on that person (all neatly tailored, every-hair-in-place) we often see here.

    Oh, our painter just arrived and shared a photo of his classic car he’d told us about — a ’67 Ford Fairlane convertible, in a particular configuration which only existed in 24 autos. Pretty neat!!

    1. If I ever share that photo anywhere, MTM says it’s grounds for divorce. I’ve always tried to honor his wish that no one see it. I’ve not even shown it to any of my friends live.

      1. All things considered . . . Nah, I wouldn’t show anyone either! Trust is one of those invaluables in the truly great marriages. 🙂

  17. BIG fan of muscle cars…Big fan….When I was 19 a guy came over to visit my Dad and they sent me out to pick up a six-pack of beer…and he let me drive his COBRA! Oh my Lordy! I stepped on the accelerator and the engine rumbled and roared forward…I was hooked…I think that was my first “O” if you know what I mean. 🙂

    1. hahahahaha! I didn’t even realize this was a muscle car, until so many of you started calling it that.

  18. I’m going to be honest, I came over just because of the title of this post. I saw it in my email and resisted as long as I could.(I’m not even a little ashamed) It was even better than I expected, especially when you had us imagining Greg Brady waves. 😉

    I like car shows and car museums, something about the smell of leather. What great pictures.

  20. Love that you are exploring so many things that you thought you wouldn’t like. Hope you’re learning lots about yourself in the process.

    1. Probably the biggest thing is that I like most things, if I’ll just give them a try. I think that concept would apply to most people………..

      1. Nodding head vigorously as I’ve just had my yoga breakthrough this week FINALLY!!!

          1. Running is a cruel bitch. She toys with me constantly.

  21. My dad has been a self-employed used car dealer for over 40 years and both of my grandfathers sold and worked on cars their whole lives around their “real jobs”. I’m a car guy from a car family. I love that car. Most of the “muscle cars” from the 60s and 70s “turn me on”.

    Maybe one day, MTM and I can take some laps on a track with some muscled up vehicles.

    1. I forgot about that one, Jim. MTM reminded me, so thank him for putting it in.

      1. I always do a silly nodding of the head when that squidgy sounding synth break comes in.

  23. Sex with cars… Reminds me of someone I used to know (I swore I’d never tell). 😉

    Beautiful car photos.

    And no, I didn’t have to Google W-31… 🙂

  24. Hokay. I knew something was up when I first saw a pic you posted of MTM and I thought “He looks like a race car driver!” I was thinking he’d be more of a European Touring Car guy than a NASCAR guy, but oh well.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt1qlgErhs4

    1. Ha. He doesn’t look so much like a race car driver anymore. 🙂

  25. Beautiful cars, I will admit! Your photographs are really excellent. You’re spending your creative time in a variety of interesting galleries and museums. I’m glad to see you taking the time for yourself, or at least that’s how I’ve interpreted your personal field trips. 🙂

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