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I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today! (Archived)
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I like that green....don't believe I've ever seen a fintail that color.
I know we've talked about this a lot, fin, and I know it's not like anyone would confuse the two in person, but I do see the 'Benz here and there in the '62 and '63 Larks--more so, the '63 four-doors. And that particular green reminds me of a combination between the two light greens Studebaker offered for '63--one a metallic, one non-metallic.
It was being pulled by a wrecker with front wheels on the ground.
The hood was flat black but the rest of the car was white.
It was a 2-door with the 3-piece rear window that I love seeing.
I tried comparing pictures of 77,78, 79s to see if I could tell the year.
Nope.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
stay solid while the other flashed?
I'll bet the bullet separate light was needed to meet some US regulation.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I usually believe that the first year's styling details are the best on a car, because subsequent years were changed for the sake of change. In those Chevys, I like the '77 grilles and taillights best of the three years. They were simple.
The first exception that comes to my mind is, I like the '56 Fords, in and out, a good bit better than the '55.
For '60, the only green I'm seeing is a light one, called "Perlmuttgrun". I used an online translator for that one, and it comes up with "Mother of Pearl Green". That one's more of what I'd call a "seafoam".
FWIW, here's the charts I used:
1960: https://www.autocolorlibrary.com/pages/1960-Mercedes-Benz.html
1961: https://www.autocolorlibrary.com/pages/1961-Mercedes-Benz.html
When it comes to '55-56 Fords, I prefer the '56 as well, although I like them both. I think where I'm really an outlier though, is that I prefer the '56 Chevy, to the '55 or the '57!
And then, with something like the '59 Chevy, I guess it depends on how you classify a "generation". I think of the '59-64 as all one generation. And for my preference, I think it got better in '60, better still in '61. It's a hard call for me with '61 versus '62, as I like them both in their own way. And then the '63-64, I don't care for, quite as much.
I wonder how most people would group the '60-64 Fords? That one's a bit of a hard call for me. Even though they all used the same frame (which actually dates back to 1957), the '60 does seem a radical departure from both the '59 and the '61. From '61-64, I can see the yearly progression, and the similarity of them all, but the '60 just seems so "out there" compared to anything that came before or after.
I actually like the '79 grille and taillights.
Caprice Classics: '78 taillights sectioned into a busy look IMHO, but not too bad.
'79 grille, meh, but I hate the single backup lights underneath the taillights!
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2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
For the color discussion, here's a color chart from an enthusiast page I am pretty sure the date ranges stated are not set in stone, but the colors/codes look accurate.
A few decades ago, a guy named 'Perlmutter' was nearly the demise of the company I worked for, ugh.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-cadillac-deville-21/?fbclid=IwAR1B_eq0ysTokhjkITtk54Qe3ddUkNvuDMyflIyyYrHJb9yngZLEzb63WPc
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That Coupe DeVille is a really nice surviving example though. Shame about the tragedy of its owner. I guess it just goes to show, you don't know how much time you have left, so enjoy it while you can!
On the plus side, at least the guy got to buy it, and enjoy it for a few days.
The Caddy then is a cliche I know, but I felt it was styled in a less-block-y fashion than the Lincoln.
I like the color of the Caddy, and that it doesn't have wire wheel covers.
I actually like the Calais those last few years of the enormous cars; rarely-seen, still very much a Caddy, and if you got the optional expanded vinyl, it looked like leather but wore better.
1976 Electra Limited 4-door hardtop I think the only things I'd want to change would be putting a set of those Buick Magnum rally wheels on it, and a whitewall that's a bit thinner.
One thing that bugs me about that '76 Coupe DeVille, is the big gap of the hood outline, and above the bumper. To me it gives the car a bit of an unfinished look. With the Electra, the gap between the bumper and the rest of the car is tighter. And the hood doesn't come all the way to the front of the car, so viewed from the front it hides that gap. Also, when they mount those rectangular quads flush with the front of the car like on the Caddy, when they get the least bit out of adjustment, it really shows. With the Buick, the lights are recessed a bit, so any misalignment isn't as glaring.
And yeah, the Lincolns were definitely more square-rigged in style...a bit more "formal".
I've heard many times, and I agree, that a top-end Electra or Ninety-Eight was a better-buy than a Cadillac, as you could get more luxury inside for the same or lower price.
I have tended to 'goof' on buying 'prestige' names in most anything, and my family was like that too, so no one in our family, nor I, would ever have considered either of those cars.
That said, if I were shopping domestic luxury then, I can see why people held out for Cadillac.
Oftentimes (but not always), their own dealer network; their own engine; longer wheelbase; sheetmetal and instrument panel not shared with lesser models (e.g., I can see 'LeSabre' in the Electra's front fenders and instrument panel; not that that's bad, just an observation).
A friend of mine grew up down the street from Central Cadillac in Cleveland, which has been there for decades upon decades. His Dad was a loyal customer. He bought Series 62 and then Calais models well into the sixties and enjoyed them. His last Cadillac was a '78 Seville, which came after a '76 Seville.
The friend's parents owned a bar and lived above it. They often had Central Cadillac retirement parties there so it was a mutually-beneficial business/friendship relationship between them and Central.
I think once the Dad bought Caddy, he didn't consider anything below it in the GM hierarchy.
I'm sure there are others, but I'm not aware of a more-NOS car out there other than the 23.8 mile 1964 Studebaker Daytona Hardtop in the Studebaker National Museum that was the last car off the South Bend assembly line.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/vintage-reviews/vintage-rt-road-test-1968-chevelle-malibu-327-an-unusually-satisfactory-car/#more-438043
But, that's one thing that was so magical about GM in those days...with the bigger cars at least, all five divisions had their own dash. So, if one wasn't appealing to you, another division probably had one that was. That's something I miss, the variety. I guess you could argue that there's still plenty of variety these days, just in markets that I don't really pay that much attention to.
And, the Buick dash wasn't without its faults. For instance, I don't think it offered an extra gauge package, like what Chevy and Pontiac did. Now that I think about it, could you get extra gauges (temp, oil, battery) on a full-sized Olds in '71-76? I'm pretty sure you couldn't, on Cadillac. And I think with Chevy, the extra gauges were just temperature and a vacuum "fuel economy" gauge.
Going to idiot lights versus real gauges seems like a cost cutting move, but I seem to recall reading that drivers would tend to pay more attention to a red warning light than they would a gauge that's moving too far in one direction or the other.
As for that '68 Chevelle road test, I'm impressed by the performance. I would've thought that the 2-speed Powerglide would have been a serious deterrent to acceleration, but it doesn't seem to be the case. And, it had air conditioning, which is going to put a bit more drag on the engine, even when not in use. That car was also heavier than I thought it would be, at 3590 lb curb weight, but still a lightweight compared to those Colonades that the Curbside Classic writer referenced.
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I jog by this cool looking 70s style house (actually an 80s build), and checked it out on street view. One image had this in the driveway, a Jensen-Healey I think:
Just down the street in the driveway of a cool remarkably preserved 70s house (when varied cladding and rooflines were modern, not just a trend for monied wannabe hip types), these two barges, one contemporary with the house. Pic is 3 years old, cars are still there today:
On a fintail cruising route in a posh area where even here houses average 1MM+, this mid century place with a gaggle of old MBs - all of the old street view images have at least a few cars:
A recent sale a few blocks away had me checking it out on streeview, apparently a hoarder house of sorts in the past (was sold as a fixer), appears to be a Town Coupe and maybe a Fury behind it:
From looking at real estate again, this spot looks like a ~52 Dodge and a P1800:
And in the carport, another P1800 - I think these have become pretty desirable lately:
Looks like a Fiat 128 and Plymouth Caravelle, perhaps:
Still one of the best things about this area, rust takes decades to become significant, tons of old cars around.
That '79 T-bird in the video Explorerx4 posted looks like a pretty nice example. Looks like a base model, but still pretty nice. That's one thing I liked about these Disco era Birds...even the entry level models still had a niceness about them. And, considering the prices people want these days for total crap, that ~$13-14K price they're asking doesn't seem TOO ridiculous. Especially since it's a dealer selling it.
Ford was so predictable back then.
The Mark V in 78 had a Diamond Jubilee Edition (Ford 75th Anniversary) and so did the T-bird
They did so well that in 79 they needed a special model so the Mark got the Collector’s Series trim and the T-Bird got the Heritage. Essentially they were the exact same option package and trim in different colors.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Now for '78, they list 333,757 for the base coupe and Town Landau combined, plus an additional 18,994 for the Diamond Jubilee. IIRC, when the T-bird downsized, and reduced its base price, a lot of that price reduction was because it was de-contented. I think the Town Landau basically added back all the stuff that had been taken out, plus a plusher (but not Diamond Jubilee/Heritage-level) interior?
When they downsized yet again for '80, they had a Silver Anniversary edition, which I guess took over for Heritage...and then Heritage came back for '81-82 and, interestingly, '83!
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I've seen some really basic Birds of that generation too - manual windows, kind of plain interiors. I recall reading ads from fleets that those cars were in the mix. What I recall most about these is that my 2nd grade teacher drove one, I think it was kind of a bronze color, but I don't recall trim details. I liked her, which may help me like the cars.
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These Birds were definitely a lot of car for the money. A '79 started at around $5900, whereas a Monte Carlo, if you got the V8, was around $5600. But, the Monte still had a manual transmission standard, and that V8 was the 267. The T-bird gave you the 302 and an automatic standard for that $5900.
FWIW, the Monte Carlo sold about 316K units in '79, compared to the T-bird's 284K. So apparently, a lot of buyers still wanted their personal luxury coupes to be large-ish and hedonistic, fuel economy be damned...although, Ford did phase out the 400 in these cars, leaving just the 302 and 351, so buyers were being forced into more economical engines, whether they wanted to or not.
Now that I think back on it, does anyone remember when in '79 the second oil crisis really hit hard? On one hand, 1979 was still a very strong sales year for the auto industry, with bigger cars still doing pretty well, but I have a feeling that towards the end, they might have had to start using some big discounts to move them. I can remember in the fall of '79, my Mom really starting to complain about gasoline prices. But, that summer we had moved to southern Maryland, and Mom got homesick, so we were back up like every other weekend to visit my grandparents, so that was really racking up the miles on the car. And I remember her saying that the commute to work was only 19 miles, versus 18 before. But, the 18 miles was mostly highway (albeit, the DC Beltway, which can become a parking lot at times), whereas the 19 miles had a lot of traffic lights, going through Waldorf on Route 301, and then on Route 5 up to Andrews Airforce Base, where she worked. In more recent times, Route 5 has been widened, and traffic flow improved, but in those days there was a ton of traffic lights through that stretch. Although in modern times, I think the increased population has probably made that commute as bad now, if not worse, than it was in 1979-80!
I do remember gasoline getting up to around $1.10 per gallon in late 1979, but that would have been the 1980 model year.
I wonder, how one of those '77-79 T-birds would have fared with a slightly more modern powertrain? Say, a fuel-injected 302 and the 4-speed automatic? I'd guess it would be about the equivalent to a Panther-based LTD/Crown Vic or Grand Marquis.
records that would give the VIN of my 1977 Cutlass or my 1967 Mustang. I doubt if the State motor vehicle records folks would be able or willing to search for a list of previous cars I've owned.
Has anyone tried to do something like that. In most cases the selling dealership locations are gone.
It's be interesting to find my 1967 Mustang notchback is still in existence in some owner's garage.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The first time was back in 2009 or 2010. It was parked in front of the garage, a good 90 feet from the street. But, it was backed in, and didn't have a license plate on the front, so I got nabbed for having an "untagged" car. Apparently it was a slow day, and an inspector had come through our neighborhood, looking for various infractions.
I think the exact violation was "Untagged, inoperable, dismantled, or wrecked vehicle". It was sometimes a crap shoot as to whether that car would start or not, so I guess it could also fall under "inoperable". Anyway, I called the inspector to get it taken care of, and he said he'd be back around. This time, I backed the car up, almost to the street, so that it was obvious you could see the license plate and that it was current. And, the next time he came by, he said that was fine. Thank God he didn't make me start it, and prove that it could move, because I'm sure it would have let me down!
Then, in 2018, I got into a little tiff with one of the neighbors, and they called Code Enforcement, and they got me again. This time however, the inspector trespassed, and went back, and noticed my 2000 Park Ave, which was sitting there, with no tags on it. However, it was partially obstructed by a pile of gravel, so the only way you could tell it was untagged, was to trespass! The New Yorker was out by the street, with the rear facing the road. However, it had been sitting there for about 2 years without being moved.
At the time, anybody driving by would have been treated to roughly this view...
As for the Park Ave, you can barely see it, through the trees, in this pic, but there's no way to tell it's untagged, unless you actually went back there...
Google came through shortly after I got the blue NYer moved. I had put it in neutral and let it roll down the hill toward the garage as far as it would go, and then used my Regal, with an old tire between the two as a buffer, to try and push it into the garage. At one point though, I put a battery in it, fiddled around with it, and by some freak of nature, after sitting for almost two years, it fired up, and I was able to actually drive it into the garage. Wish I had thought to try starting it, in the first place! As for the Park Ave, I used one of those portable jump start things on it, and the sucker fired right up! I got it across the street, at my grandmother's house.
Unfortunately, the New Yorker had several wasp nests in it. It was a miracle I never got stung. One of them, a big one, was in the passenger side doorjamb. I was able to knock it out. But, those wasps are persistent little suckers. I started alternating between parking the Ram and the Regal in that same spot, and both of them ended up with wasp nests in them!
I also put up the "No Trespassing" signs after that little squabble with the neighbor, although from a legal standpoint, I don't know how much good that would do. Somehow, I think I'd get in trouble taking shots at a county inspector on my property, even with those signs!
Up the street from me, this MGB has been (mostly) sitting under a cover since at least 2007, when the first streetview pics were gathered. It is still there today (current owners apparently bought the house in the late 80s, car probably conveyed with the house):
Kind of surprising, as in my specific neighborhood there are a lot of yard maintenance freaks and little old ladies watching over things. I have a space beside my garage where the prior owner had a garden, and it is gated - maybe once a spot for camper storage or something. I am sometimes tempted to get a really old "yard art" car and park it there, but don't want to spend the money.
On the obscure car front, there's an old lady in the neighborhood who drives a 4 hole Lucerne, those have to be getting uncommon.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I know the elderly couple I bought my '57 DeSoto from have passed away. I had kept in touch with them for a bit, and the wife died in 1991, about a year after I bought the car. I was able to look up the husband online, and found he passed away in 2009...
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/york/name/russell-spangler-obituary?id=23434854
Now, they weren't the original owners of the car. They bought it used in 1959. The original owner traded it after two years, on a new Pontiac. But, I'm sure the original owner is dead by now, too.
I know the original owner of my '79 New Yorker is dead. It was bought new, and when the original owner died, his son put the car up for sale, and I stumbled across it. That was back in 2007. I still remember the son, who was a Ford man, saying "I never did like that car!"
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I still had the VIN on my 1998 leSabre from the dealer purchase of my Malibu where I traded it in.
Ohio has a VIN tracking site for public use. I found it had been sold into the next country east of us.
I don't think it had a lot of life in it, and was sure the dealer wholesaled it. So it probably went to a buy here pay here type lot where they take advantage of folks needing a cheaper used car.
My 2003 leSabre, I haven't looked up for a while. I should have made a list of the VINs. I'll have to dig to find papers that have it. Shortly after trading it, I saw it at the local Lowes store, being driven by an older man and a fairly large dog in the front seat. I walked over to it and saw a couple of identifying beauty marks it had on it.
What I really am interested in knowing is about the 1967 and 1970 Mustangs. I believe both were insured by State Farm, so I'll have to stop by the office and ask how far back their records go at State Farm.
I believe the 1967 was titled in Indiana.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
'77 Cobra II: didn't age well. By the time I sold it at four years old, brought $1500. Even with a V-8, it's likely gone.
'82 Accord: While mechanically decent, pretty rusty after 12 years, and seats were coming apart. No A/C, and not FI. Traded it in for $350. I'm sure it's gone.
'67 BMW 2000CS: Sold it in 1991, and the guy that bought it put in a newer engine and a 5-speed. (probably spent $8K-$10K on it). I saw it sometime around 2000, parked at a repair shop. It might still be in someone's collection, or under a tarp somewhere.
'84 Porsche 911: Sold in 1994. Unless it's been totaled, there is no doubt someone still owns it.
'88 Mazda 323 GTX: Had an engine and transfer case issue when I traded it, in 1995. $3K of parts needed for a $5K car. Pretty desirable, today, but I'll guess it's gone.
'95 Pathfinder: Leased. Last year of the boxy model. SE trim. Nice. Might still be around, if it hasn't rusted away.
'98 Honda CR-V: Totaled it in 2002.
'02 Honda CR-V: Traded it in '08 with 106K. I'd guess it's still going, if not wrecked.
'08 Impreza: Leased. I didn't like that car. I hope it's dead.
'06 BMW 330i ZHP coupe: Sold in 2020. I'm positive that car still leads it's best life!
'13 Audi A3 TDI: Sold back to VW in 2016. VW probably crushed it.
'08 Honda Fit Sport: Sold in 2019. My landscaper's daughter is still driving it.
Those are my drivers... won't bother with the wife or son's cars.
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https://bmvonline.dps.ohio.gov/search/title/
This tells the county in which the vehicle is currently registered.
It does tell if it's private party or a licensed dealer which has the vehicle.
This is true IF the vehicle is still in Ohio.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech