I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today! (Archived)

fintail

Late 126s are horrible about those period colors...champagne, gold, bronze, etc. Most of them were those colors, black, or white. They'd have a palomino or tan interior too, which didn't age well. My blue one is relatively rare, and I know of at least one red one in my area too.

Those cars do keep on going though. I don't know if it is just my area, but I see them quite a bit now and then, not too shabby for a car that was last made in 1991, and was always a high-price low volume machine. It will go down as MBs most well-rounded and solidly engineered S class.

Today I saw a black Audi V8.

jrosasmc

What was the model designation (i.e. W***) for the 1996-02 E-Class series? Sadly, starting with that generation one could easily see the beginnings of M-B's slide in quality and electronic reliability.

PF_Flyer

Obscure car sightings are ALWAYS welcome at our chats!

PF Flyer
Host
Pickups & News & Views Message Boards

The MAZDA MANIA Chat is on tonight. Hope to see YOU there! Check out the schedule

fintail

The 'bugeye' E as I call it is a W210, and it has indeed been plagued with troubles. Apart from the quality and electrical issues, there have been growing reports about poor sealing of the metal on the underside of the doors...many cars have developed rust there, and a few other places as well. Simply inexcusable.

I think the slide could be seen with the big W140 S class that replaced the old W126. That car is so big and complex, and has many known issues. The beginning of trouble came in 1992 when it was introduced. Every new model since then has been riddled with complaints about cheap materials and unreliable gadgets.

The last old school MB was the R129 SL that came out in 1990.

merckx

I saw the new Bently coupe yesterday. It had nowhere near the presence I thought one in the flesh would have. Looked slightly blobby....Not bad,just a little nondescript...I was expecting a little more.
I do like the new sedan I've seen in the English mags,though.

kyfdx

The '97-'99 model...

In that bright blue.. but, it had a black hardtop... You don't see too many hardtops on any of the BMW convertibles...

It looked showroom new, even going up the freeway in a rainstorm..

andre1969

with the hard top attached. Does anybody know how heavy those things are? I'm sure it's a two-man job to get one on and off!

kyfdx

It isn't the weight so much.. Just the size and awkwardness.. and the desire not to scratch your car...

They sell a hoist that attaches to the roof of your garage, and you can just lift it off.. Not sure how that works with a roll-up garage door, though..

I'd like to find out how tough it is... just can't afford one, though...

Mr_Shiftright

A Datsun "SSS" station wagon...the kind that look bent at the roof. What is that, a 310 I think? From the early 60s. I believe it has dual carbs in the SSS model.

fintail

Something like this (a 410)?

Mr_Shiftright

Yep, that's it but those don't seem to be SSS models.

Oh man, look at those wooden boats in the background. All worm-eaten now I bet.

fintail

There's vague mention of an SSS wagon on this site...must be extremely rare

Cool site too

andre1969

those wooden boats or the 410? :-)

lemko

I saw a black 1991 or so Eagle Summit sedan the other day. I also spotted a Vision.

seminole_kev

This is a weird one. For those keeping score at home, that front is a knock off of a Jag Mk II, but the rest?


from here:
http://www.mitsuoka-motor.com/english/lineup/viewt/exterior.html

Certainly a weird little bugger and a strange idea.

andys120

I don't know which is funnier, that crackpot styling which reminds me of a London Taxi wearing a Jaguar nose, or the screwball legend:

"Happy to hear that it is full of atmosphere and presence rather than talent." (huh?, well it is full of something and it sure isn't talent).

I must say that's a cunning replica of the MkII nose, they're only missing the little lights atop the fender and the proportions are perfect to my eye.

So why didn't they copy the rest of the car?

seminole_kev

it is close, but the lights are too close to the grill. (Actually it is just a little "scrunched in" across) but yeah, why not try to work the rest of it if you're doing a knock-off?

Mr_Shiftright

No homelier than a Mark X or a 420:)

Today I saw parked on the beach, a cut-down Jeep Cherokee 4-door, made to look like a 4-door pickup. Used for surfers apparently.

Not a bad idea really since the old Jeep Cherokees aren't worth anything, but in this case they should have checked the tide tables, as I saw waves lapping the rocker panels later in the day. I'm not sure the driveline is going to like that salt-water doushing.

seminole_kev

Easy there shifty! While I don't really care for the front of the 420G/Mk X, the lines are nice to me for such a large car. Certainly better than this new London taxi with a Mk2 front clip "morphed" on!

*side note, I always found it confusing the way Jaguar had the 420 and 420G that were completely different cars, but tried to ape each other. Seemed a little confusing to me. Easy to figure out which one's which when it was called the Mk X rather than the 420G.

Uh, that will conclude my mindless ramblings for today.

utter

Wow.. went to my bros house and got up and close to a Mercedes SL65 AMG. That is one sleak looking vehicle. To bad I couldn't take her for a ride.

Mr_Shiftright

you have my permission, go ahead.

fintail

I think the one in that pic is based on a Nissan Micra. Their other cars seem to be based on Nissan models.

I don't know what this monstrosity is based on, though . The crapulent neo-classic thing died 20 years ago, and good riddance.

andys120

Geez Fin, it's almost dinner time but you ruined my appetite.

That one makes a Zimmer look good.

fintail

I couldn't resist.

They had a Zimmer on Monster Garage the other night. So there's one less on the road.

That Japanese company with the British styling tack-ons is pretty amusing.

A modern day Wolseley Hornet

This is based on the Cedric/Infiniti M45...pimpy as a Stutz, from the front.

Sentra with a Daimler front and a Corniche butt

seminole_kev

I should have never posted that link! It's melting your mind.

fintail

Don't tell me you wouldn't want one of those things...a nice fake S-type...

This looks really nice, and is extra cool as a 4 speed. Not an investment car of course, but a nice unusual driver, with class and quality. You could do a hell of a lot worse for $4500.

kyfdx

That is the one I really like... and also, the model right after that, with the less upright grill? Maybe a 280C?

And a stick-shift!!

fintail

I think that ebay car is very nice looking...if it is as nice as described, it'd be a good pickup for a real 'practical classic'. You can't buy much for that kind of money, esp in that condition.

I think the car you mention would be a W123 coupe, that did indeed replace the ebay car, offered c. 1978-1985, often seen in diesel form in the US.

This one has Euro lights and is RHD, but you get the idea:

kyfdx

That is the one.. Believe it or not, most of the ones I've seen have been the gas models.. Of course, most of the sedans have been diesels..

regards,
kyfdx

lemko

...a slightly hotrodded black '55 Chevrolet Bel Air similar to the one Harrison Ford drove in "American Grafitti."

andre1969

I saw a blue '69 Roadrunner with a 383. It's in the shop, and I saw it when I went there to give my friend a ride home, who dropped off his '98 Tracker to get the timing belt and water pump replaced.

Turns out the guy that owns a body/repair shop right next door has a Malibu fetish! Parked up against a chain link fence were a white 1980 coupe with an aftermarket hood that had a HUGE bulge on it, a blue '79 coupe, and a blue '82-83 wagon. Seeing that white '80 made me get a bit nostalgic for my old '80 Malibu, which was my first car. But when I saw that this thing didn't look like it had an engine in it from the way it was sitting, and the driver's side window was down, I thought twice about seeing whether the owner wanted to sell it. Then I talked to the guys in the shop about it, and they said all those cars have probably been sitting there for about 10 years! Best to let sleeping dogs lie, I guess.

fintail

I see mainly diesel 123 coupes, at least here, where diesels are pretty big. But the 280CE was sold in NA, and in the wild gray market days of the early and mid 80s, a lot of freaks came over...so there is a 280C out there somewhere I am sure.

I am sure you can get a mint old Malibu for less than it would cost to get a hopeless case back on the road.

fintail

A few oddballs out in the rain today... a Datsun 510 sedan and wagon, at different locations, MB 123 diesel wagon and sedan in the same color, facing each other in a parking arcade, last night I saw a beautiful looking 58-60 T-Bird

lemko

...a red 1971 Buick Skylark convertible with a white top.

jrosasmc

I have to inform you guys of this unbelievable spotting this afternoon down in NJ: a mid-'60s Lamborghini 400GT, actually moving. How anyone can afford to maintain those vehicles, let alone purchase one period, is beyond me.

grbeck

Parked at the small garage across the street from my apartment were two interesting GM vehicles.

The first was a 1964 Buick Skylark Sportwagon. It looked good from about 25 feet, but a closer inspection revealed a bad repaint and mismatched trim pieces.

Parked beside it was a silver 1977 Cadillac Seville. This one was in good condition. It sported regular Pennsylvania license plates, which tells me that it is a daily driver.

Parked in an alley about a block away from my place was a VW Karmann-Ghia coupe. It lacked bumpers and looked as though someone had started a restoration and then quit.

Mr_Shiftright

All it takes is $1 a mile--that's what the Lambo wrenches tell me. Ditto Ferrari, one mile one buck in repairs/maintenance. This doesn't include restoration costs of course.

fintail

Late yesterday I saw a later Fox Mustang hatch, with a 5.0 but it wasn't a GT. I rememeber when those were quite the sleeper to have.

Ebay time:

I'd like to see these export cars stay where they were sent...they belong there

Kind of a Shifty-mobile

You'll be the only one with this...

Here's a funny trio

These were good road racers in their day, IIRC

This is class and elegance. I love the whole dash and especially that instrument cluster. A jewel.

Neat old Fiat wagon

Somehow, I like this a lot. I don't know why. I don't think these were ever sold in NA. Very cool, lots of funky details.

Very nice original late DeSoto with healthy bidding

Ebay - the clearinghouse for mint old Newports

Rare old Ford with interesting history

Mint looking Malibu wagon for Andre

Very pretty and expensive 220SE cabrio....I like the rear buckets, and those tires would be nice on my fintail

126 with rare 4-place seating...I'd like to find a car with that here...but without the cheesy 80s cloth

andys120

Fin the sleeper Mustang you're thinking of was the LX 5.0 model which was identical mechanically to the GT 5.0 Fox Mustang and had the bodywork of the V6 powered LX coupes, convertibles and hatches.

You could tell them visually by the GT-style wheels
and twin tailpipes and they usually wore a discreet "5.0" badge on the flank.

Where'd you get the idea that the Alliance was a good race car, only against another Alliance methinks. )

What a beautiful Packard, class and elegance indeed.

Those Fiat 130 Coupes may have been imported in small numbers. They have facias similar to the Bertone-bodied Fiat Dino Coupe....

http://www.carsfromitaly.com/fiat/dinoz2.jpg</img

seminole_kev

The LX 5.0 was actually faster than the GT because it didn't wear 8 tons of ground effects that the GT had. Always liked the 5.0 LX.

Mr_Shiftright

Rare Old Ford: Without photos of FDR in the car or proof that he EVER set foot in it (unlikely), it is hardly worth double the market value based on such flimsy speculation.

fintail

Weren't those Renaults raced? Maybe I am thinking of something else

I've never seen a Fiat 130...I don't think they made it over here. Of course, by the time I was old enough to remember, most of them would likely have been ruined already.

I agree about that Ford...not worth double market value for a story

andre1969

that LaSeyde neoclassic thing that Fintail posted awhile back wouldn't somehow be based on a Hyundai Tiburon, would it? Something about the door and side windows make me think of the Tiburon. And considering the fairly light weight, only around 3000 lb, suggests that it's not based on a larger car, such as those Tiffanys that were based on '83-86 and '87-88 Cougars, and some of those neoclassic cars that were based on Town Cars.

I kinda like that 1980 Malibu wagon. That's the same exact color my '80 coupe was...that light metallic blue. Really pretty when it's shiny, but horrible when faded and crows-footed, as mine was by the time I got it. Too bad they didn't mention the displacement of the engine. If it's a 305, it might not be that bad to drive around in, but around this time they were pushing the 267/4.4 V-8, because of the slightly better fuel economy, so it might be one of those.

As for the Newport, why is it that so many of those things, mainly the '69-73 models, are still around in pristine condition? Were they bought by little old ladies and just hoarded away? I never was much of a fan of that "fuselage" style, except for the Imperials and maybe the 1969 Dodge Monaco, which somehow managed to hide its fatness. They were well-built, sturdy cars, but just not too exciting to look at. Still, I wouldn't turn down a nice one at the right price. I actually like the style of the '74-78 models that followed, but those things were put together downright sloppy compared to the '69-73's.

andre1969

or does this thing look like a pimped up Nissan Sentra?



And this one looks like it was based on a Hyundai XG350...



Somehow, if "The Car" had been made today instead of in 1977, I think this is how it would have looked.

Mr_Shiftright

omigod, it's a 1956 MG Magnette!!

kyfdx

A friend of mine, who has owned his MGA for about 30 years, and is on his 3rd restoration of it, is restoring a Magnette for his wife...

I think he lost his mind right after the second restoration of the MGA, though... I talk to him about it a lot, but still can't figure out why he just didn't do another MGA..

fintail

Andre - that first car you show is indeed a Sentra, and the second one is a Nissan Cedric (old Infiniti M45 - I think they sold about 4 of them in NA). Good comparison to "The Car". I don't think the big coupe one is a Tiburon...the lines of the back window aren't right. I bet it's some JDM Nissan product.

andre1969

now that you mention it, I can definitely see the "Cedric"/M45 in that "LaVey" or whatever that thing was I posted. I guess the frameless door windows and C-pillar made me think of the XG350 first. Plus, I probably had Hyundai on the brain since I thought that first thing was a Tiburon!

One of my cousins used to have a Tiffany, which was one of the many neoclassic attempts that used the '83-86 T-bird as its basis. As far as these monstrosities go, it wasn't half bad looking. Still not anything I'd ever blow my money on, though!

210delray

...why bother? A forgettable design in my book. Now the '81-88 G-Body 2-door specialty coupes like the Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Cutlass Supreme, and Regal look a lot better.

My first car was a '75 VW Rabbit, and I have no desire to own one again, even if somehow one showed up in pristine condition!

Speaking of Regals, while returning home from DC along Route 29 tonight, I saw Leon's junkyard in Culpeper Co., VA had an 80s Regal coupe out front for sale. It was too dark to see its condition, but I'm sure it would be a cheap buy.

As for fuselage-style full-size Mopars, there's a nice-looking (from 100 feet anyway) Chrysler sedan for sale in Madison County, again just off Route 29. Unfortunately, it's avocado green!

andre1969

I just get a bit nostalgic for the '78-83 Malibu because my first car was a 1980 coupe. I thought the '78-81 Malibu coupes were good looking cars, as was the 1981 LeMans coupe. The '78-80 LeMans coupes would've been nice looking, if it weren't for that front-end!

The earlier 4-doors were kind of clunky looking though, mainly those "aeroback" '78-79 Century and Cutlass Salon models, and the '78-80 LeMans/Malibu, with rooflines that were just too big for the body, kind of in the vein of the 2000-2004 Avalon. They gave them a more formal roofline though later in the cycle (1980 for Century/Cutlass sedans, 1981 for Malibu/LeMans), and I thought it made them look nice. Nothing to die for, or restore to #1 condition, but nice for the time.

I always thought the Malibu coupe would've looked really good if they had made it in '82-83, with the quad headlights and eggcrate grille.