Vanderbilt Cup Races

A fantastic post I thoroughly enjoyed. Always thankful for history preserved by early photography. Thanks to all for making this happen!

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

I met Chick at a car show in the late 80’s, I had a 55’ Chevy like the one in american Graffiti. I have pictures of him & I & me sitting behind the wheel. I also have video of him & the car at a car show in middle Island, long Island & we met big Daddy. It was a great thrill to sit behind the wheel
&  meet Chick, you’re right ,he was a great guy. He said his father was a Tucker salesman & that he bought it off a guy that bought it at the auction. He said he got a new eng. in the crate & the bumper from #53 & the maroon paint was $160 a gallon. He had looked at another one prior but he sad there was too much rot on it.He also told me that while an owner of one was in the hospital the town came & took it & buried it on the banks of lake Michigan, they thought it was an Oldsmobile. He also said the rather than give back a car a dealer sank one in lake Michigan. Guard that car with you lives guys ,it’s priceless!

From Mike Tucker, Sean Tucker and Rob Ida's Newly Acquired Tucker #51

Another amazing historic Motor Pkwy photo - one that I haven’t seen before. The street sign and fuel truck on the right gave away the location. I believe we’re looking west on newly-paved Carnation Rd in Levittown towards where the Motor Pkwy Newbridge Rd bridge once stood. All that remains in this photo is the west abutment wall. With the east wall removed, the west wall will follow suit sometime later for Salisbury Park Drive continuity. Appears an electrical supply station in the background on left side of the photo. The electric station remains today at the SW corner of Newbridge Rd and Salisbury Park Dr. Guessing this photo was taken after 1948 when the bridge was removed during Levittown development

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

Ah, the 1950s—a time that feels almost legendary to me. As I understand it, Rudy Vallée, the famed singer, saxophonist, and bandleader, took it upon himself to open the gas station since there weren’t any conveniently located near his home. And with that, the story unfolds.
This striking picture is displayed on the large picture window outback at Lucille’s American Cafe, nestled at 2250 Weston Rd, Weston, FL 33326. The cafe is a haven for classic comfort food, serving up dishes that evoke a sense of nostalgia and the timeless charm of the 50s. If you ever have the chance, step inside—it’s a delightful experience, especially for those who appreciate a journey back in time.

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: The Munsey Park Service Center on Northern Boulevard with a 1956 Chevy

It is great the some women get into buying old cars back into the 1950’s into the 1970’s and fix them up as new cars.  I am a professional photographer and like to go to these car shows.  I took auto machine in high school and use to fixed my car when I was young.

From Newsday: Women of the Long Island Car Community

If it wasn’t for the white wooden street sign at the right ( N Newbridge Rd ) this definitely would’ve been much harder to figure. Say this was taken from Carnation Rd, looking west across a then narrow N Newbridge Rd in Levittown. Above and to the left of the remaining abutment, I see framework with insulators. That’s the LILCO Electric Substation. Then there’s the LILCO transmission pole above in the middle. This image is similar to another image Al Velocci submitted in 2019. That image was determined 1956, so I’ll guess this current mystery is also 1956. But the 2019 image was taken after this abutment was knocked down, or maybe the photographer stood immediately west of the abutment. Up until now, LRV titles the road between Newbridge Rd and Old Westbury as Motor Pkwy. But we know it now as Salisbury Park Dr. Also notice the Fire House Sign, looks to be on the west side of Newbridge. I believe the Fire House was always on the east side of Newbridge.

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

Real tough one, Al so it’s time for a couple of guesses. Is it possible we’re looking at a remnant of the Bloomingdale Road bridge, looking north, in the vicinity of Bloomingdale Road and Tiller Lane in Levittown? Maybe the date is around 1950.

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

Well there are so many obvious clues in this picture, like the North Newbridge sign, the Levittown Heating truck, and the LILCO sub station.

The bridge this abutment originally belonged to
  Over North Newbridge overpass.

Location and streets in the photograph
  Standing in the middle of Carnation Road near Newbridge Road

Orientation of the photographer
  Looking west.

Year the photograph was taken
  Levittown was built between 1947 and 1951. We can see a Levitt west of
  Newbridge so this is towards the latter date. I wish I had more details saved on
  the timeline of the build as I live half a mile from this location.
  The east abutment probably came down in ‘47 as Carnation was the only
  egress to Newbridge at the time; the extension of Orchid came at a later phase.
  There is what is my favorite LIMP picture of this bridge in Howard Kroplick’s
  book “The Long Island Motor Parkway” It shows a racer jumping over this
  bridge, in the background is the Nassau (Newbridge?) Hotel, and a railroad
  crossing sign plus electric overhead from the Stewart Extension is also visible.
  (The Pennsylvania Railroad used this extension to test various methods to
  power electric trains for the NYC Pennsylvania Station and necessary tunnels.)

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

This was the Newbridge road parkway bridge with LIMP running over Newbridge
Location;Levittown On Newbridge Road and LIMP( near Carnation?) intersection facing West with Long Island Utility company on left and LILCO tower on left in back ground.
Year- guess is early 1950s as the houses in the Levittown area went up around 1948 I believe

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

Hi Howard and Roz! - So proud and happy for all your efforts over the years!
Ann

From Upcoming car shows, concours and exhibit for the Howard & Roz Kroplick Collection: Updated 4/8/26

I wonder who the lucky winner is.

From 1908 Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup Race Mascot/Paperweight sells for $2,706 in today's Automobilia Auction

Great to see. One of the most foremost authors and historians about automotive subjects was a woman - Beverly Rae Kimes. She wrote volumes of material about car history (mostly pre-WWII) and also was the author along with Henry Ausin Clark Jr. of
two huge encyclopedias about cars made in the USA.  Few could equal her knowledge and enthusiasm. I was long time friends with her and her husband Jim Cox, and a regular contributor to a magazine she was the editor of.

From Newsday: Women of the Long Island Car Community

Nice for me to see, you go girls!

From Newsday: Women of the Long Island Car Community

Newbridge Road Bridge (sign post indicates N. Newbridge Road)
Levittown, corner of N. Newbridge Road and today’s Salisbury Park Drive. 
Looking east
Approximately 1947

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

1- The Long Island Motor Parkway abutment
2- Levitown, Newbridge Road and Carnation Road
3- looking west next to the East Meadow fire department station 3 to the left and the Long Island power grid to the left looking west
4- The photograph was taken in the late 1940s early 1950s

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

Glad to hear you’re recovering so well.
Rich

From Update Sunday, 6/29/2025: Rehab Update: Rehab at 90% Healing

Great news Continued prayers for your full and speedy recovery Jerry and Rita

From Update Sunday, 6/29/2025: Rehab Update: Rehab at 90% Healing

This looks like the Newbridge road bridge abutment in Levittown.  Photographer is standing on Carnation road looking west.  The bridge was taken down 1948-49.  Newbridge road wasn’t widened until the bridge was completely taken down.  So for a little while the surrounding newly built side streets were actually a little wider than the old Newbridge road.  Please post more pictures like these.  This was an amazing find.

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

The signpost gives away that the street at the top of the T-intersection is N. Newbridge Rd. (I grew up in the Town of Hempstead and am old enough to remember that style of street sign.) So the photographer must be on Salisbury Park Drive, facing where Carnation Road was going to be. Guessing circa 1950.

From Mystery Friday Foto #17 Solved: The Lone Newbridge Road Bridge Abutment in 1955

I remember Marty very well.  My wife and I used to see Marty at the Old Country Buffet in Bay Shore.  He was very friendly and engaged in conversation with everyone.  When he knew that I was a Studebaker fan, he would call me every time he saw a Studebaker for sale.  A great human being.  We miss him.  I loved the car shows that Marty hosted at his museum.
Rog

From Marty Himes at the Vanderbilt Cup Races Grandstands in Levittown