Classic Chevy, San Juan Bautista

I thought Sunday morning would be a good time to get a panorama of the historic town of San Juan Bautista. When we arrived there was no-one about, and not a single car was visible from the plaza. Perfect — no anachronistic vehicles to mar my period piece. But as soon as I set up my tripod three cars arrived, then four more. Fifteen minutes later there were cars parked all around the square, as people arrived for mass in the old mission church.

I decided to take advantage of the situation, and feature this lovingly restored 1956 Chevy Bel Air in my panorama. There is a certain logical connection, as two classic movies of that era have given us a time capsule view of this area. Alfred Hitchhock's Vertigo (1958) was filmed right here, in the mission church (which had a tower at the time), and The Wild One (1954), with Marlon Brando, was set in nearby Hollister.

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