1923 Peerless & Flappers

This picture of two flappers on a 1923 Peerless Touring Phaeton is widely known in the antique car enthusiasts and it is also considered an excellent representation of the 1920s era.

However, apparently not much is known about it. On the internet, I could only find a reference of the picture being taken in San Francisco bay area.

As we are in the Peerless Society, maybe we should know more about it.

What was the purpose of that photograph? Commercial, artistic, domestic, profissional, fun…? Who were those young ladies? What was the message behind that imagina? Was it planned? Who took the picture?

I was planning to ask these questions in the AACA forum, but i believe we should do this here first!

Thoughts? Any historical references?

Oct 31, 2026

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Replies (11)

· 1d

Great photo! And I love the colors of the car.

· 1d

I am intrigued by the full nickel plated headlights shown in this picture.
I have always seen black painted shells with nickel plated bezels in 1923 model 66 cars. Was this an option for the period?

· 1d

I’ve seen the photo before but never noticed the narrow stripe whitewalls on it. I didn’t even know those existed at the time.

· 1d

Thanks for point that out Travis. I didn't notice either.

· 1d

Great photo! Very rare to have a photo like in from the 20's!!!

· 1d

Perhaps some photo shopping, could sharpen up the image and be able to
provide details, or location on that spire in the background ?

· 1d

You might be on to something. Very clear image for the period.

· 1d

Possibly printed from an original negative. Otherwise enhanced in some way.

· 1d

There are different versions of this around somewhere in different poses. Someone ID'd the tower as left over from a world's fair or exposition a few years earlier.

(edited)

· 1d

Jeff, I think I like the non-colorized version best.

· 1d