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1 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Intersection on the highway. Phoenix, AZ

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2 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

A mobile home at the trailer park in Venice, FL

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3 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Owner of a Ford F150 resting between his car and the door to his motel room. Madison, Georgia. Image part of Automobile America project in progress.

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4 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

View from the bus in Miami, FL

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5 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Fairgrounds in Phoenix, FL

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6 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Weekend get-together of car lovers in Phoenix, Arizona

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7 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Vintage car racing at the Tucson Dragway. Cars from 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's owned mainly by well off pensioners, beneficiaries of the previously generous American pension system - older white Americans.

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8 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Car racing trophies belonging to Dan Olszewski are standing next the tv set showing a commercial. Olszewski is a hero of vintage car racing, who ofter races at at the Tucson Dragway.

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9 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Children dressed up during "Hunted Car Wash" Halloween event at the local car wash center. Phoenix, AZ

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10 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Farmer David Laurence, 68, with his beloved '79 Chevrolet Malibu at his farm in Weston, Georgia.

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11 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Street in central Phoenix, AZ

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12 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Long luxurious car hissing on the highway. Phoenix, AZ

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13 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Children of hispanic immigrants repairing their toy car at the trailer park. Over 5% of people in Kansas live in mobile homes. Garden City, Kansas

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14 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Vintage car racing at the Tucson Dragway.

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15 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Car jumping competition during the Lowrider Car Show in Miami, FL

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16 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Rural road in the evening near Tucson, AZ

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17 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Vintage car racing at the Tucson Dragway.

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18 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Shot of the private photo book belonging to Dan Olszewski, hero of vintage car racing at the Tucson Dragway.

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19 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Roadkill. Georgia

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20 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

At the motel room. Georgia

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21 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Model posing by the heavily tuned and embroiled '57 Chevy on display on the first day of the Lowrider Car Show in Miami, FL

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22 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Client and waitress at the roadside diner, Inverness, FL

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23 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Men talking on the street in central Mami, FL

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24 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Car wash in the night.  
Fort Myers, FL

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25 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Drive-in counter of a fast food restaurant at the rest area of the interstate highway.
Georgia

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26 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Vietnam war veteran and other locals at the bar deep in the forest in north Florida, place accessible only by car.

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27 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Motel at night. Florida

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28 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Yellow sports car at the deserted car park by the shopping mall on Sunday.
Venice, FL

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29 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Mexican-American man and his horse are running from the coming storm, for shelter at the horse trailer. Dodge City, Kansas

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30 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Local road through forests near Inverness, FL

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31 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

African - American children playing on a parking lot. Atlanta, Georgia

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32 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Homeless man's tent under the Interstate highway in Atlanta, Georgia.

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33 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Man lighting a cigarette at the parking lot at the rest area of the interstate highway in Georgia

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34 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Local road passing through the wilderness. Georgia

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35 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Client at the roadside restaurant. Chiefland, Florida

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36 of 36 © 2024 Piotr Malecki

Traffic on interstate highway in Georgia.

Public Story
Automobile America
Copyright Piotr Malecki 2024
Date of Work Dec 1969 - Dec 1969
Updated Mar 2019
Location USA
Topics Art, automotive, car, cars, Conceptual, Documentary, Editorial, Essays, Feature, Photography, Photojournalism, Travel
If Aliens were to descend on this planet in the 21st century and witness the vast number and variety of colourful vehicles whizzing around the roads they could be excused for thinking that it is the automobile that is in charge, not the smaller, two legged creature sitting at the wheel, steering the cars.
This photographic journey across the USA is an attempt to capture the enormous impact that cars have had on modern life. America, the home of the mass produced motorcar, is the most striking embodiment of our love affair with the car; an object that continues to inspire passion and a sense of identity in its owners.
I travelled around the United States on a number of trips, and was struck by America's unique relationship to what could arguably be called one of the main forces behind its economic might and global influence.


Piotr Malecki photographer and filmmaker

Photojournalist, filmmaker and DOP.
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