June 22, 2019 – A blue 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 parked in front of the Windsor Hotel at 18 St Thomas St in the Bay-Cloverhill neighbourhood of Toronto
While exploring the City of Toronto archives and the collections at the Toronto Public Library, we came across several photographs featuring vintage cars set against the backdrop of the city. We have gathered these images, along with a few of our own recent photos, for a post dedicated to vintage cars. From the iconic Ford Model T to classic Cadillacs, and muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camero, to the futuristic DeLorean, these photos offer a nostalgic glimpse into the past.
The cars shown in the photos below range from 40 to over 100 years old. Did you know that old cars are classified based on the year they were manufactured? Generally, classic cars are defined as being 20 to 44 years old, antique cars range from 45 to 95 years old, and vintage cars are those produced between 1918 and 1930.
We have made an effort to identify the make, model, and year of the vehicles shown in the photos. If you can assist us in identifying or dating any of them, please let us know in the comment section near the bottom of the page.
Cars in Toronto Photos
Circa 1903 – A motor car in front of the King Edward Hotel, located at 37 King St E in the St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto (Toronto Public Library PICTURES-R-4810) July 28, 1972 – Looking north up Mount Pleasant Rd, from south of Moore St, in the Moore Park neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features an orange circa-1970 Chevrolet Nova SS (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 72, Item 35)1906 – A Packard is shown parked in front of the former Alexandra Apartments, once on the west side of University Ave, opposite Gerrard St W, in the Discovery District of Toronto. Notice there are snow chains on the rear tires (Toronto Public Library PICTURES-R-3650)June 5, 1981 – A burgundy early 1960s Chevrolet Corvette parked on Yorkville Ave in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 8, Item 136)1912 – Bank messengers in a Cadillac Model 30 on King St W in Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 135F) September 2, 2019 – A blue 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray travelling north on Yonge St, north of Briar Hill Ave, in the Sherwood Park neighbourhood of TorontoCirca 1912 – A vintage postcard featuring the Roncesvalles Ave streetscape, looking southeast from Grenadier Rd in the Roncesvalles Village neighbourhood of Toronto. It shows a woman crossing the street and a car travelling south on Roncesvalles Ave (Toronto Public Library PC_3856 – Rumsey & Co. publisher)1972 – Looking northeast toward the corner of Yonge St and Bloor St E, in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows a green 1970 Dodge Challenger in the foreground. Heading east on Bloor St is a white, circa 1970 Chevrolet Nova, and the cream-coloured car alongside it could be a circa 1964 Studebaker Lark. It also shows the former Royal Bank of Canada building, which was demolished in the mid-1970s to make way for the Hudson Bay Centre (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 112)April 18, 1979 – Looking northwest on Front St E, between George St and Frederick St, in Toronto’s Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood. The photo features a white 1974 Chevrolet Camaro… with roof racks, in front of a building being demolished (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 57, Item 73)Circa 1914 – A vintage postcard of a motor car driving through High Park in Toronto (Toronto Public Library PC_5009 – International Stationery Co., Picton, Canada publisher)1980s – Looking east from Elm St towards Yonge St in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto. The photo features a silver 1972 Citroën SM in the foreground and a brown and white 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo waiting to turn onto Yonge St. The image also captures three record stores on this stretch of Yonge St including Sam the Record Man, A & A Records & Tapes, and the white building next to A & A’s was home to Peter Dunn’s Vinyl Museum (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 20, Item 23 – Urban Design photographs)November 4, 1975 – Looking southeast towards the Victorian-style homes and storefronts once on Church St, south of Dundas St E, in the Garden District of Toronto. The photo features a salmon pink 1966 Dodge Dart convertible, with a Gold Leaf Iridescent 1972 Plymouth Fury behind it (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 8, Item 44)Circa 1918 – A Ford Model T, which was nicknamed the “Tin Lizzie,” heading south on Queen’s Park Crescent, in front of Queen’s Park and the Legislative Building in Toronto (Toronto Public Library 2015-2-170)Between 1970 and 1980 – Looking east along Eastern Ave towards Booth Ave in the South Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features a blue early-1970s Oldsmobile Cutlass with Consumers’ Gas buildings in the background (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 384, Item 6 – Urban Design photographs) Circa 1921 – A car parked in front of the Merchants Bank of Canada, once at 12-16 King St W, just west of Yonge St, in the Financial District of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 983) October 1963 – Looking northwest on Wellington St W, east of Bay St, in the Financial District of Toronto. The photo features a Skylight Blue 1964 Ford Falcon in the foreground, with a green early 1960s Chevrolet Biscayne parked in front of it (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 1, Item 123)November 27, 1981 – Looking southwest at 225 Queen St W, west of Simcoe St, in the Entertainment District of Toronto. The photo features a gold and white 1971 to 1973 Buick Riviera (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 70, Item 11)1923 – Looking north towards the former Transportation Building, once at Exhibition grounds in Toronto. The photo shows several vintage cars parked around the Transportation Building. This building, which existed from 1909 until it was destroyed by fire in 1974, is now the site of a parking lot located east of the Liberty Grand and south of the Government Building that currently houses Medieval Times. The dome of the Government Building can be seen in the background (Toronto Public Pictures-R-2751)1976 – Looking west on Queens Quay W, between Rees St and Spadina Ave, in the Harbourfront area of Toronto. The photo features a 1968 Pontiac Beaumont (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 125, Item 19 – Urban Design photographs) August 25, 1927 – A photo titled “Nature’s auto laundry. A Saturday afternoon scene on the Humber River at Lambton, Ontario” (Toronto Public Library 125-GO-344 – John Boyd photographer, Toronto Star Photograph Archive) July 6, 1978 – Looking towards 252 Adelaide St E, just east of George St, in the St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows three cars, including an Olympic Blue 1973 AMC Hornet, and an Autumn Gold and black 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 53, Item 49)January 22, 1929 – Vintage cars parked in front of the newly constructed Haddon Hall Apartments, located at 262 Jarvis St in the Garden District neighbourhood of Toronto. As of 2025 the building, which was designed by architect Norman Armstrong, still stands (Toronto Public Library TSPA_0109059F – Toronto Star Photograph Archive) April 18, 1979 – Looking southwest on Frederick St, just north of Front St E, in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features a green 1974 Buick Century parked next to another unidentified car in front of a building that is being demolished. This building was once used by the Toronto Street Railway Company and the Toronto Railway Company. St. Lawrence Market and the CN Tower are visible in the distance (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 57, Item 85)August 13, 1981 – Looking east on McCaul St, opposite D’Arcy St, in downtown Toronto. The photo features a light blue late 1970s Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight parked on the street (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 93)Between 1937 and 1939 – Looking northeast up Spadina Ave, from south College St, in the Kensington Market neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows several cars parked at an angle along Spadina Ave. In the left distance is what was originally known as Knox College, built in 1875, which is now the Daniels Building, part of the University of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 5253) June 11, 2022 – Looking northeast on Dovercourt Rd from Bloor St W, in the Bloorcourt Village neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features an early 1980s DMC DeLorean, famously known as the time machine from the Back to the Future movie series. This car was produced for just three years, from 1981 to 1983. Until that day, I had never seen a DeLorean in real life, but I spotted it three times in the neighbourhoodSeptember 4, 1937 – Looking northeast along Danforth Ave from Broadview Ave in the North Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows car traffic and streetcars along the thoroughfare, with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in the background (Toronto Public Library TSPA_0113091F – Toronto Star Photograph Archive, W. H. James photographer) August 1963 – Looking southeast along Gerrard St W, towards Bay St, in the neighbourhood once known as Gerrard Village in downtown Toronto. From right to left, the photo features a beige 1960 Mercury Monterey, a green late 1950s AMC Rambler Rebel Sedan, and a black Morris Minor (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 1, Item 117)
Circa 1947 – Looking northwest towards the former Warburton Motors, a Ford-Monarch dealership, once at 670 Manning Ave, north of Bloor St W in the Seaton Village neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows a circa 1940 Ford DeLuxe parked in front of the dealership. The building has long since been replaced (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 3, Item 1440 – Dept. of Public Works photographs) January 1, 1963 – Looking northwest towards the former National Trust Building, once on King St E, just west of Victoria St, in the St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows an antique car parked in front of the building. Today, the site at 18 King St E is home to an office tower (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 1, Item 93) August 1939 – Looking southwest towards the Cherry Street Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge over the ship channel in the Port Lands of Toronto. The photo features the photographer’s 1934 Dodge Sedan (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-5313 – James Victor Salmon photographer)April 8, 1981 – Looking north on King St E, east of Jarvis St, in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features a black early 1980s Datsun 280ZX parked next to the building (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 65, Item 29)August 31, 1953 – Looking northwest from the steps of Tip Top Tailors (now Lofts) at 637 Lake Shore Blvd W in the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features an early 1950s Cadillac Series 62 parked next to the water fountain (City of Toronto Archives, Strathy Smith fonds, Fonds 1128, Series 381, File 258, Item 11043-5) November 4, 1975 – Looking northeast towards 37 to 43 Mutual St, just south of Shuter St, in the Garden District of Toronto. The photo shows several cars, which today would be considered antiques, parked along the street and in a lot. If you can help identify the make, model or year any of the vehicles in the photo, please let us know in the comment section near the bottom of the page (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 85)April 1953 – Looking northwest towards the previous Dufferin Gate, near the foot of Dufferin St, at Exhibition Place in Toronto. The photo shows a 1951 Ford Custom parked near the gate (Toronto Public Library PICTURES-R-3498 – James Victor Salmon photographer) September 4, 1972 – Looking southeast towards Lake Shore Blvd W and Lake Ontario during the Canadian International Air Show at Exhibition Place. An orange 1969 Ford Mustang is travelling east on the Lake Shore (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 96, Item 70)August 1954 – Looking northwest towards Bloor Street United Church at 300 Bloor St W and Huron St in The Annex neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows parked cars and traffic along the thoroughfare (Toronto Public Library PICTURES-R-1436 – James Victor Salmon photographer) 1970s – Looking northwest towards the former Berkeley Street Fire Hall No. 4, today’s Alumnae Theatre, at 70 Berkeley St in the Old Town neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features two convertibles, a yellow mid-1960s Ford Mustang and an orange 1960s Volkswagen Beetle (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Historical Board fonds, Fonds 2043, Series 2523, File 144, Item 1)June 26, 1956 – A 1924 AC (Auto Carriers) Ltd car parked at Haynes Auto Electric Ltd, once located at 154 York St, between King St W and Adelaide St W, in downtown Toronto (Toronto Public Library 2001-2-370 – Ted Chirnside author) June 22, 2019 – A blue 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 parked in front of the Windsor Hotel at 18 St Thomas St in the Bay-Cloverhill neighbourhood of TorontoJune 7, 1957 – Shirley Wilkinson competed in the stock car races for women drivers at Exhibition Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Gilbert A. Milne & Co., Ltd. fonds, Fonds 1653, Series 975, File 2380, Item 34510-1) June 14, 1971 – Several cars, including a black 1964 Pontiac Parisienne, are parked on Inkerman St, between St Nicholas St and Bay St, in the Bay-Cloverhill neighbourhood of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 10)Between 1970 and 1972 – Looking northwest up Yonge St from King St in the Financial District of Toronto. The photo features a Cranberry Red with black stripes 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS driving up Yonge St (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 312, Item 37 – Urban Design photographs)Late 1950s – Looking northeast towards the Village House Hotel, once located at Bay St and Elm St in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto. The photo shows a 1957 Buick Special parked in front of the hotel (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 548)March 1959 – Looking northwest towards the former Court Street Police Station, between Toronto St and Church St, in the St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows cars parked by the old station. The station was constructed in the mid-1870s as a “Police Court & Engine House, designed by architects Harper & Son. The grand old building was demolished in 1960 (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 1, Item 44) February 8, 1979 – Looking west on Frederick St, between Front St E and King St E in Toronto’s Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood. The photo shows a green AMC Gremlin and a copper and beige Chevrolet G20 van, both from the 1970s, parked in front of a building that is being demolished. This building was previously used for storing and servicing the Toronto Street Railway Company and the Toronto Railway Company cars. Notice the steeple of The Cathedral Church of St James in the distance, on the right (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 55, Item 108)August 1963 – Looking northeast along Gerrard St W, from just east of Elizabeth St, in downtown Toronto. The photo features a Sandshell Beige 1962 Ford Falcon parked on the street in front of the shops. The bohemian neighbourhood was once known as Gerrard Village and was compared to New York City’s Greenwich Village (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 1, ID 118)1963 – Looking northwest at Weston Rd and Lawrence Ave W in the Weston neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows several cars, which today would be considered antiques, at the intersection. If you can help identify the make, model or year any of the vehicles in the photo, please let us know in the comment section near the bottom of the page (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 38)August 1963 – Looking southeast towards the corner of Front St E and Scott St in the St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows a brown 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air parked in a lot with the former building that was home to National Grocers Company in the background. Since 1970, the southeast corner has been home to the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 1, Item 109) May 1965 – Looking southeast along Gerrard St W towards Yonge St, in the neighbourhood once known as Gerrard Village in downtown Toronto. The photo features a blue 1965 Chevrolet Impala parked on the street, which was once lined with colourfully painted shops, including the Village Bookstore, The Unicorn and The Artisans (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 1, ID 146)Circa 1965 – Looking northwest towards the rear of 71-75 Queen St W, between York St and Bay St, in downtown Toronto. The photo features a 1965 Chevrolet Impala parked behind the former Broadway Theatre. Notice the Coca-Cola ad painted on the side of the theatre. This building, along with the rest of the block, was demolished in the mid-1960s. In 1972, the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel opened at the site (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 220, Series 65, File 284, Item 1 – Alexandra Studio photographs) Circa 1965 – Looking northeast towards 88-100 Richmond St W, between Bay St and York St, in the Financial District of Toronto. The photo shows a mid-1960s Ford Mustang parked on the street alongside several other cars, including a couple of Volkswagen Beetles. The Victory Building, located on the far right, still stands today, while the other buildings in the image have been demolished. The site is now part of the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 220, Series 65, File 284, Item 30 – Alexandra Studio photographs)1965 – Looking north on Triller Ave, just north of King St W, in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features a yellow and blue Divco Model U Silverwood Dairies delivery truck parked on the street (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 333, Item 6 – Urban Design photographs) Circa 1965 – Looking northwest towards 106-116 Richmond St W, between York St and Bay St, in the Financial District neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows several cars, which today would be considered antiques, parked along the street and in a lot. If you can help identify the make, model or year any of the vehicles in the photo, please let us know in the comment section near the bottom of the page (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 220, Series 65, File 284, Item 32 – Alexandra Studio photographs) March 1969 – Looking southwest along Bloor St W, just east of Bay St, in the Bay-Cloverhill and Yorkville neighbourhoods of Toronto. The photo features several cars, including a late 1960s Pontiac Firebird on the right, and just ahead of it, to the left of the Firebird, is a 1965 Chevrolet Impala. Also, notice the University Theatre sign on the right (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 40)Between 1970 and 1972 – Looking northwest up Yonge St, from south of Dundas St, in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto. The photo features a green 1968 Chevrolet Camaro driving down Yonge St. According to the 1972 Toronto City Directory, a few of the establishments in the archive photo, from left to right, include Edison Shoes, Wong’s Camera & Florist, Uniform World, Henry Faber Men’s Tailors, Knox Optical, Susanna’s Hair Stylist, KB Loheed & Sons Shoes, Tall Gals Registered Ladies Wear, Japan Camera Centre and United Clothing (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 312, Item 70 – Urban Design photographs)
February 1971 – Looking southwest at traffic along Yonge St, from north of Bloor St, in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto. If you can help identify or date any of the vehicles in the photo, please let us know in the comment section near the bottom of the page (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 108) April 16, 1971 – Looking northwest from Ontario St towards Wellesley St E in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows cars, which today would be considered antique, parked in a dirt lot (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 99)May 28, 1971 – Looking east on St Joseph St towards Yonge St, in the Bay-Cloverhill neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows several cars parked along the street (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 2, Item 49)June 14, 1971 – An unidentified purple car on Inkerman St, between St Nicholas St and Bay St, in the Bay-Cloverhill neighbourhood of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 94)1972 – Looking east along Wellesley St E from Sumach St in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features an early 1970s Ford Pinto in the foreground, and parked directly ahead of it is a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 29, Item 22)1972 – Looking southeast toward the Sunoco station once at the corner of Bay St and Walton St, in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto. The photo features a mid-1960s Plymouth Barracuda to the left of the pump and a late-1960s Ford Mustang parked on the right. Notice the sign out front says, “Car Wash 99¢” (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 59, Item 32)1972 – Looking southwest towards the corner of Richmond St W and Simcoe St, in the Entertainment District and Wellington Place neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows a 1971 or 1972 Chevrolet Camaro and a circa-1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo parked in front of the Dairy Barn Stores of Canada Limited (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 44, Item 18)August 1972 – Looking northeast on Carlton St, just east of Yonge St, in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto. The photo shows a yellow early-1970s AMC Gremlin parked next to the former Odeon Carlton Theatre, which was located at 20 Carlton St (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 158)1972 – Looking southeast towards the corner of Adelaide St E and Princess St in the Old Town neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features an early 1970s Oldsmobile Cutlass parked next to the Toronto Electric Co. building, which was once at the corner (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 38, Item 6)1972 – Looking northeast towards the corner of King St W and Peter St in the Entertainment District of Toronto. The photo shows several cars parked in a lot at the corner, along with the top of the Canada Life Building in the distance. Today, this stretch of King St W, to Widmer St, is home to the Hyatt Regency Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 78, Item 7)September 4, 1972 – Looking southwest towards Lake Shore Blvd W and Lake Ontario from Exhibition Place during the Canadian International Air Show. Along with the few cars on the Lake Shore, the photo features a water bomber plane over the lake (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 96, Item 78)1972 – Looking northwest towards the corner of Church St and Richmond St E, in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows an early 1970s Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the centre. The four-story building on the corner was constructed in 1908 as a warehouse for the McLaughlin Carriage Company, which produced an earlier mode of transportation (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 51, Item 1)1972 – Looking northwest towards the corner of Richmond St E and George St, in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows cars parked next to building when it was Nick’s Auto Body & Mechanical Repair. If you can help identify the make, model or year any of the vehicles in the photo, please let us know in the comment section near the bottom of the page (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 38, Item 2)July 7, 1973 – Looking northeast from a parking lot at Ontario Place towards the CNE Midway, the Flyer roller coaster and the Bulova Tower. The photo features a green 1968 Pontiac Beaumont in the foreground (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 97, Item 17)1974 – Looking northeast from a parking lot at the CNE towards the Tornado roller coaster and the Bulova Tower at Exhibition Place in Toronto. The photo shows several cars parked in the lot, including a burgundy 1967 Buick Skylark on the far left, and next to it, a black 1965 Pontiac Parisienne (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 94, Item 82)November 3, 1975 – Looking north on James St, north of Queen St W, in downtown Toronto. On the left, the former Eaton warehouse is visible, while the Church of the Holy Trinity stands in the background, surrounded by the construction of the Eaton Centre. The photo also shows a black 1963 Chevrolet Impala convertible parked on the street (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 84, Item 110)November 4, 1975 – Looking northeast on Mutual St, north of Shuter St, in the Garden District neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features a black early 1970s Chevrolet Vega GT parked on the street (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 88)November 4, 1975 – Looking northeast on Mutual St, just south of Shuter St, in the Garden District of Toronto. The photo features a brown early 1970s Volvo 144S and an orange circa 1970 Volkswagen Beetle (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 84)May 1976 – Looking southeast along Front St W, from west of University Ave towards York St, straddling the borders of Toronto’s Financial and Entertainment Districts. The photo features a brown and white 1970s AMC Gremlin parked in front of an Avis location.
The round building in the background was originally constructed in the late 1880s as the Cyclorama, which featured panoramic paintings inside the cylindrical space. This design allowed spectators to experience a 360-degree view of various scenes, typically historical events or battles. Later a showroom then a parking lot, the heritage-designated building was demolished in 1976 (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 3, Item 58)April 5, 1977 – Looking south down Bay St from Old City Hall on Queen St W, in downtown Toronto, with a view of the traffic. A few of the cars in the photo include a light grey Chevrolet Camaro Type LT on the left, a light blue or white Ford Granada in the centre, and a medium grey Honda Civic on the right, all from the mid-1970s (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 7, Item 31)March 15, 1979 – Looking west on Frederick St, just north of Front St E, in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows a green 1970s Chevrolet Biscayne and a blue late 1970s Volkswagen Rabbit parked in front of the demolition site of a building constructed in the 1880s. This building was once used by the Toronto Street Railway Company and the Toronto Railway Company. Notice the CN Tower in the background (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 56 Item 96)April 11, 1979 – Looking towards the northwest corner of Front St E and Frederick St in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo features St. Lawrence Hall with the Cathedral Church of St. James in the background, along with a blue and white Chrysler New Yorker from the early 1970s (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 57 Item 47)February 1980 – Looking northeast from the steps of the Royal Ontario Museum at Queen’s Park, south of Bloor St W, in the University of Toronto – St George Campus area. The photo shows vendors and traffic along the street, including a yellow police car passing directly in front of the University of Toronto’s Department of Household Science Building. Notice the Church of the Redeemer in the left background (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 3, Item 70)1980 – Looking northwest on Hallam St, just west of Dovercourt Rd, in the Dovercourt Village neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows several cars, which today would be considered antiques, parked along the street. If you can help identify the make, model or year any of the vehicles in the photo, please let us know in the comment section near the bottom of the page (Toronto Public Library LOCHIST-BL-022) July 22, 1983 – Looking northeast at the corner of John St and Nelson St in the Entertainment District of Toronto. The photo shows a Stardust Blue Mazda RX-7 from the late 1970s or early 1980s parked on the street (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 39)September 17, 1984 – Looking west on Berkeley St at King St E in Toronto’s Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood. The photo shows a few cars parked on the street and next to the building, including a white 1970s Chevrolet Camaro. The building in the background was once the offices and halls for the Reid Lumber Company (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 65, Item 143)Between 1981 and 1988 – Looking northeast on Henry Lane Terrace towards George St S in the St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The photo shows several cars parked along the street. If you can help identify the make, model or year any of the vehicles in the photo, please let us know in the comment section near the bottom of the page (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 735, Item 7 – Urban Design photographs) May 25, 2025 – Vintage cars parked in a lot at the southeast corner of Kingston Rd and Cliffside Dr in the Cliffside neighbourhood of Toronto
Out of Town Car Photos
November 25, 2025 – Spotted Clark Griswold (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie) in Paris, Ontario, in a Christmas tree-topped late 1970s Dodge Monaco Crestwood
