The Queen Mary Ladies Mystery

But Bikinis have been around since the 4th Century, see :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikini
But the modern Bikini, was re-invented in the early 40's by French automobile Engineer Louis Reard, of all people, obviously a chassis engineer !
stuart

My humble apologies once reviewing the models more closely the second one in shows a full windsceen with no middle divider therefore it Is a Lincoln Zephyr not either a Ford or Mercury as earlier suggested as both of those had 2 sections in the front screen. Sincerely Bob Branner

Thank you for this enjoyable photo
All of the cars in the photo are of 1939 vintage. I know these cars as they are cars of my youth growing up in Canada however,for reference please find after each car will appear in brackets a page number from my copy of the Encyclopidia of American Cars. I reserve my comment about the location as I do not know where photo was taken could easily be any other port in America need to have a closer look at the number plates could easily be Florida perhaps advert for rental car companyat the port revealing such a range of cars from standard through to Luxury models so a little harder to tell.
Starting with the one behind the lovely brunette. Yes they had Bikinis like that many period car ads as well as WW2 pinup girls will reveal similar.
1. Lincoln Model K (510)
2. Ford Model 91A (369)very similar to Mercury 99a however it was distinguished by chrome strip along lower edge of bonnet
3. Pontiac Series 6EB Deluxe (720) distinguished by spaces betwwen bars on grille Chevrolet had more solid grille Cadillac had a sloping grille with headlights on top of fenders quite far back.
4. Packard 120 (644) I once had the honour of owning one in 1974 to 80
5. Dodge D11 Luxury Liner apropriately placed next to the Queen Mary luxury liner. The ram mascot gives it away unless that is a boat in the back ground, then possibly a Chrysler Series C23 Imperial difficult to say for certain as is the more distant within the photo.
Hope this helps solve Mystery
Best wishes
Bob Branner

I believe that shot was taken fairly recently where the Queen Mary is now permanently grounded as a hotel in Long Beach California. Compare the background in:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/03/18/travel/18LONGBEACH.html

I'll leave it to others identify the cars !

The 3rd car from the right is more likely to be a Cadillac?, than a Chev. It has a GM type grill, but the chrome around the side windows makes me think it's more like a Cadillac.

I am afraid I can not help with the cars, but this photo van not have been taken an earlier than 1967, as the Queen Mary is in it's Long Beach mooring. If you look closely at the stern of the ship you will see the rocks, which are part of it's permanent mooring. The Queen Mary never visited Long Beach during it's service life.

I wonder if this photo was taken when the ship arrived at Long Beach, perhaps part of the publicity?

First on right is a 1938-40 Lincoln model K. Second from the right is a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr. I'm not sure of the rest, 39 Chev? then a Packard? can't quite make out the last.