It is weird, how my eye always picks up on the European cars in American settings, when watching practically anything State-made on TV. The same thing, unsurprisingly, happened when I wandered around Los Angeles and San Francisco; it was always the Volvos, Benzes and Alfas that I felt I had to photograph. Looking back on my photos, there’s a ton of material with old Mercedes-Benzes neatly parked on Californian curbs. Still, it’s the Volvo 240s still sputtering on that I appreciate the most. 
This diesel W123 on Hyde Street near Russian Hill was in extremely nice shape. The paint was good, the bumpers unbeaten, and the interior in top notch condition. Somebody treats it very kindly. 
I was surprised to see this Alfa Romeo 164 across the street from the library, but suddenly it all made sense… 
There’s an European garage right there, with somebody working on a Multipla of all things. 
Close by sat this very brown 560SEL with period-correct gold BBS wheels. 
Jumping to Santa Monica, this red SL really stood out. 
Same with this white one. Or maybe it’s the considerable bumpers that caught my eye. 
Matte black G-Wagon shot on the same day, black down to the wheels. 
The SF Alfa Romeo shop wasn’t the only one focusing on these cars, as I found out. This garage is slap bang in the middle of Culver City, and they had a nice sortiment of Italian metal right there under the sun. 
Practically every great everyday Alfa imported to the United States was there, in different guises. 
Hey, if I ever move to Culver City and get a Craigslist Alfa Romeo, I know where to take it. [Images: Copyright 2014 Hooniverse/Antti Kautonen]
By Antti Kautonen
The resident Finn of Hooniverse. Owns old Peugeots and whatnot, writes long thinkpieces on unloved cars. These two facts might be related.
Jeff Glucker