Cruising Van Nuys Boulevard in the Summer of 1972

In the Los Angeles suburb of San Fernando Valley, Wednesday night was cruise night. A long stretch of Van Nuys Boulevard would be packed with kids and cars from all over Southern California – the place to show off your ride. In the summer of 1972, photographer Rick McCloskey went to Van Nuys to shoot this series of photographs, the culture on the boulevard had become an amalgamation of various lifestyles, automobiles, and very different looks and styles. The tribes included surfers, low-riders, muscle cars, street racers, and even “retro” styles from the 1950s. McCloskey’s photos offer a fascinating portrayal of the young people, their cars, and iconic backgrounds; a world that has long since vanished. “You had everything from your Mustangs to lowriders and hot rods,” recalled Rick McCloskey. “Essentially you were out there to see your friends, show off your car and just sort of be there. It was the place for young people to be.” There were other cruising spots in the city, but Van Nuys,