This is a collection of images of cars various families have owned going back into the 1960s and earlier. Not nearly all the cars that were owned are included mainly because many were not photographed. Some cars have interesting stories. For others, I know very little. If you can identify the make and model of any of the cars that aren’t identified, have corrections to the make/model of any cars, or have additional stories about them, please contact me.
Car on Fire
This Chevy was Aunt Inez Pellett’s first car. I remember riding in it and climbing into the backseat as it was a two-door. At some point, Inez decided to get another car, probably to have four doors. So, she negotiated a deal to sell it to Roy Mosley (his wife was the famous Mrs. Mosley, who taught at Hiattville).
Before the transaction had been completed, Dad was doing some work on the car. I am not sure what happened, but there was a fire and the fire department was called. They talked to Dad about what happened and never bothered to ask who owned the car. So, it was reported in the newspaper that Dad’s car had a fire.
When Roy Mosley found out, he called Dad. He offered to let Dad borrow the car he was buying until Dad could get his fixed. Little did he know that he was offering Dad the very car that had a fire.
Family Reunion
Portions of the McCracken family gathered for a family reunion in 1953 at Lincoln Park in Pittsburg, Kansas. Anyone able to name all the people in the photo?
Multiple of their cars can be seen. Not sure where the rest of the cars are hiding.
Thomson Cars
These are old cars at Hebert and Blanche (Klinefelter) Thomson’s farm.
Car Models
Dee (McCracken) Burnam and Ruthe (McCracken) McCarty posing on Dad’s car sometime in the 1950s.
Thomas-Pellett Auto
This was found among my photos from Mom’s family. I assume this is from the Thomas family, but it is possible that it is from the Pellett family.
White Walls
Max and Betty Barton are standing by their “get-away” car when they married. Max’s 1956 Buick had great white walls. And, if you look close you can see the word “married” written on the side of the car. While living at Dave Workman’s farm, which was about a mile from our house, Their kids, Mitzi and Tony, learned to drive in that very car. The year was 1970/71 and the kids were at the ripe old ages of 8/9 and 11/12. According to Mitzi, they learned to drive over the rocks, cactus and rattlesnakes in the drought ridden pasture. Max always planned to fully restore the car, but that never happened. However, Tony’s family still owns the car and perhaps one day they will restore it to its original beauty. (Mitzi [Barton] Hutcherson contributed to this story.)
Suicide Door
Verda (Thomas) Eastwood is standing beside a car with an open suicide door.
1953 Chevy
Rambler
Desoto
1925 Chevy
This is Herbert and Blanche (Klinefelter) Thomson and their family. The photo was taken in 1928 and as you can see their 1925 Chevy was just as much a part of the photo as the family. It really makes you wonder why the photographer didn’t just focus on the family or have the family stand closer to the car.
This was likely taken near Stettler, Alberta, Canada, as the family traveled there in the summer of 1928.
1930 Plymouth
Joe and Nellie (Peelle) McCracken had a 1930 Plymouth when WWII started. This photo would be three or so years earlier. I am assuming that is the car in this photo. If anyone knows differently, please let me know.
The entire family did not often all ride in the car at one time, but it did happen. Of course, I should say, “In or on the car.” As I understand it, Don and Dad rode on the front fenders. Meanwhile, Dewey and Howard rode on the running boards. That left only eight people to squeeze inside, assuming they had no extras.
Another Car Prop 
Inez Pellett and I assume her nephew Glen Pellett pose with a car in the 1950s. The front grill looks a bit like it might eat you for lunch.
Wittmer Car
This car is believed to have belonged to the Wittmer family in Rod’s Klinefelter line.
Bumper Test
Great Uncle Dewey C. “Doc” McCracken, his great-nephew Larry Linke, and his nephew Roger McCracken test out the bumper of a car.
Thomson’s Ner-A-Car
When Judge S. Klinefelter was living in Florida, he sent his grandsons (Alexander, Arthur, Alfred, George, & Reid Thomson) a Ner-A-Car, which is an early motorcycle. The ad describes it as a a two-wheeler and also an auto.
The photograph above shows George Ackermann taking a spin on the Thomson’s Ner-A-Car when Herbert & Blanche were in Stettler, Alberta, Canada.
Dean Thomson came into possession of the family’s Ner-A-Car. In the early 1980’s, he sold it. He told me that he regretted not keeping it.
Car On The Field
Looks like this car is almost on the pitcher’s mound. That adds a bit more excitement when you have to play around a car. Here I thought it was bad enough that they had to try to avoid rocks, cacti, and cow pies when playing cow pasture baseball.
Wedding Day
Attendants at Marvin and Edna (Lobmeyer) Pellett’s wedding in 1948.
Sears Car
This car is thought to be a Sears car approximately 1911 or earlier. The family is thought to be related to the Wittmer family in Rod’s Klinefelter line.
Shift, Dad, Shift
I think that is Don McCracken’s Dodge behind his sons Vance and Sky. The interesting thing about this car isn’t the car itself. Instead, it is Don, the absent-minded professor, and his driving habits. Before the boys were as old as shown in the picture, they learned to remind their dad to shift.
One Ball Team, One Car
Dad is carrying the bats and it looks like the entire team is going to pile into that old convertible (or topless).
Uncle Pat?
I seem to recall Dad saying that this is Uncle Passco “Pat” Peelle with his car. Anyone know for sure?
A Lonesome Car
This car with its white walls is sitting all alone. It is from the Thomas-Pellett collection.