Latest news with #ChevyNomad
Int'l Business Times
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Int'l Business Times
Through the Lens of Steve Purdy: How One Photographer Compiled his 40 Years of Work in Mascots in Motion
For Steve Purdy, it was never about the car. It was about the curve of a fender under morning mist, the glint of light on a hood ornament, the forgotten artistry that once adorned machines of motion. After more than four decades immersed in automotive storytelling, Purdy, journalist, photographer, historian, and lifelong car enthusiast, has distilled his aesthetic obsession into Mascots in Motion, a visually stunning, deeply personal art book that celebrates the overlooked elegance of classic automobiles. It's a project that's been years, if not a lifetime, in the making. Purdy didn't grow up with dreams of being a photographer. In fact, his journey began almost by accident. A German Voigtländer camera taught him the basics, but it wasn't until age 30, after inheriting a camera equipped with a powerful lens, that everything clicked. "It was at a Concours d'Elegance show in Detroit," he says. "The depth of field blurred the background, and suddenly these ornaments looked like sculptures. Like fine art." Steve Purdy Leaning Against a 1957 Chevy Nomad From that day forward, he began shooting, on film, mind you, where every click cost a dollar and only 1 in 30 images were worth keeping. Self-taught and driven by instinct, Purdy gradually refined his craft through years of shooting at car shows, junkyards, and backroads across America. As digital photography emerged, he was late to adopt, but ready. "By then, 90% of my images were keepers," he laughs. By the time Purdy became a journalist in his 40s, he had already built an extensive archive of automotive images. His storytelling took on many forms, including road rally adventures, travel features, and even a long-running radio show. But photography remained the quiet pulse behind it all. The idea for Mascots in Motion first sparked 10 to 15 years ago. But between journalism projects, awards programs, and constant travel, it remained a dream deferred. That is, until the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world and Steve Purdy into stillness. "I realized how much I loved being home, working from my desk," he says. "It was the perfect time. I was in the right place financially and emotionally. I knew this would be part of my legacy." And so Mascots in Motion was born. 314 pages long and featuring over 300 images, all shot in the wild, as Purdy proudly notes, the book is less of a portfolio and more of an immersive gallery. It's part coffee table book, part personal memoir, and wholly homage to the aesthetics of automotive history. "None of these images were staged. No studio or artificial lighting. Just found the moments," Purdy says. "That's the philosophy of the book." The pages cover a curated journey from early motometers, mechanical precursors to hood ornaments, to legendary crystal mascots, American classics, British elegance, European flair, and finally, homemade charm. The book ends with a photo of a welded crowbar on an old pickup truck. 1930 Cadillac V-16 Goddess by Steve Purdy Each photo is paired with brief reflections, some historical, some technical, and others simply philosophical. One passage might delve into the heritage of a car brand, another into the interplay of rain and chrome. Some pages carry meditations on beauty, craft, and what it means to truly see. Today, Purdy spends most of his time marketing the book, giving lectures, and doing book signings at car shows, art galleries, and museums. His talks, often accompanied by a presentation of 60 curated images, trace the evolution of automotive mascots and the fine art surrounding them. "This is a sub-genre of automotive design. It deserves a spotlight," he says. And yes, every book ordered through his website is signed and not just with a name. Each copy includes a personal inscription, often with a message from the gift-giver. "I have a large library of art books. They're twice as valuable when they're signed," he says. "So I made that part of the experience." Purdy isn't done yet. Next on the horizon is Cargasms, a crowd-sourced book featuring reflections from industry insiders, enthusiasts, and celebrities alike. He's also dabbling in historical fiction and has just wrapped up a haunting photo series that will be showcased at the Grand Rapids' international ArtPrize competition. Even in semi-retirement, Steve Purdy's lens remains firmly focused on beauty, legacy, and the little details that most overlook. He is now available for lectures, keynote speeches, and gallery talks at museums, car clubs, art events, and educational institutions.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Horror after man, 70, decided to drive dangerously behind the wheel of his 1955 Chevy with no seatbelts
A grandfather was killed when he was thrown through the windscreen of his beloved classic car that was as old as he was. Mark Maier, 70, died when his 1955 Chevy Nomad collided with another car and veered off the road into a tree in Newman Lake, Washington. The vintage car enthusiast was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car as it burst into flames about 5.15pm on April 25. Motorists dragged him away from the burning wreck and started CPR, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. Maier had restored the Nomad, nicknamed 'Gypsy Rose', and proudly showed it at vintage cars shows in Spokane and beyond. He also owned a red 1972 Opel GT that he drove for 6,000 miles in a 20-day trip across the West Coast in May and June 2018. The Opel had the license plate 'LIL-VET' and Maier wore a US Navy hat, but details of any military career are unknown. Maier's daughter Michelle Helm shared old photos of her father posing next to the Nomad with his five grandchildren, and riding a vintage motorbike in his youth. 'God gave my dad almost 71 years. I'm thankful for his life, and for the person it shaped me to be,' she wrote. 'Our time is fleeting and how we live is important.' His friend Matt Graupner posted a montage of Maier working on the Nomad in his garage and driving it around. 'He was a good guy, and I will miss seeing him at all the car shows,' he wrote. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office explained that Maier was driving along North Idaho Road, south of Trent Avenue, when traffic slowed in front of him. An Infiniti had slowed to make a left turn, backing up traffic behind it, and Maier switched to the left land to quickly overtake the cars in front of him. As the Infinity began it's turn, it crashed into Maier's car, causing him to lose control of the car and drive off the road into an embankment and into the tree. Neither the Infinity driver or his child passenger were injured. The Spokane County Medical Examiner confirmed Maier died of blunt force trauma from the accident. Police are still investigating the crash.
