Classic Rolls-Royce Photographs by Walker Evans

While at Fortune, Evans worked on countless features in his dual capacity as editor and photographer. Here, LIFE magazine offers a gallery of Walker Evans photos from one such assignment: pictures he made in August 1958 “at Montreal,” noted Fortune in its December 1, 1958, issue, “at a meet of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club. About 100 cars came to Montreal, one from as far away as Kansas. The club was first formed by owners whose principal enthusiasm was the vintage machines of 1906-1936,” the piece concluded, “but it has been tolerant enough to admit even owners of recent models.”

The larger Rolls-Royce feature in that 1958 issue, meanwhile, titled “Rolls-Royce Stoops to Sell,” included a few bits of information that, more than five decades later, feel as if they might be dispatches from ancient history, rather than from the middle part of the 20th century.

A 1912 Rolls-Royce Speedster, Montreal meet of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club in August 1958

A 1914 Silver Ghost Tourer, Montreal meet of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club in August 1958

Detail of a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, owned by D.A. Marshall of Toronto, Canada, showing door latch and outside brake

A 1930 Phantom II Mulliner Continental Tourer at the Montreal meet of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club in August 1958

A vintage Rolls at the Montreal meet of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club in August 1958

Detail on a 1939 Wraith at the Montreal meet of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club in August 1958

Front grill of a vintage Rolls at the Montreal meet of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club in August 1958

A 1957 Silver Cloud at the Montreal meet of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club in August 1958