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

fintail

Saw this in a fintail group (car is in Luxembourg and is a few years newer), my car's relative, I was taken aback a bit:

uplanderguy

Interesting photo from FB; full-size '65 Chevys on line behind Pontiac Bonneville.

I remember my parents' '84 Monte Carlo was built at Arlington.

Michaell

My cousins husband worked at the GM plant in Arlington before he retired.

imidazol97

Do assembly line workers always dress so skimpily and wear high heels?
LOL

kyfdx

imidazol97 said:

Do assembly line workers always dress so skimpily and wear high heels?
LOL

Union job..

texases

I’m guessing they don’t work in the welding department…

explorerx4

Only the hood polishers dressed like that.

gsemike

Short bed standard cab ranger, I think from the 90s

benjaminh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-j70y8JA_E

uplanderguy

Overall, I think the '65 Bonneville and Grand Prix are the nicest of the entire run of those model names. And that instrument panel, to me is the best ever put in a car. Period.

gsemike

@uplanderguy said:
Overall, I think the '65 Bonneville and Grand Prix are the nicest of the entire run of those model names. And that instrument panel, to me is the best ever put in a car. Period.

They were definitely handsome cars.

I am however partial to 69 grand prix's

ab348

gsemike said:

@uplanderguy said:

Overall, I think the '65 Bonneville and Grand Prix are the nicest of the entire run of those model names. And that instrument panel, to me is the best ever put in a car. Period.

They were definitely handsome cars.

I am however partial to 69 grand prix's

Yeah, Adam seems to be going a bit overboard on his Pontiac. It is undoubtedly a fine car for the era, but Is any mid-60s car really all that great?

uplanderguy

I probably prefer the '66 in profile to the '65, although they're very similar. The only thing that bugs me on a '65 Bonneville is that big front fender emblem that I call "the spaceship". Taken off the car for '66. Like the '65 instrument panel, and front and rear styling, better.

andre1969

In my opinion, I'd say full-sized Pontiac styling hit its peak in '65. I think the '66 is almost as good, with one minor exception. I like the way the headlights have a forward thrust on the '65, versus being more upright and blunt on the '66.

My main attraction to the '67 has always been the front end. with the low bumper/grille combo, it almost looks futuristic. Even as a little kid, I was intrigued by the '67. I remember back in 1994, when I bought my Catalina, some of my friends said the same thing. I remember one of them saying that the '68 Dart I had at the time, just seemed "old" and "clunky", but that the Catalina seemed like something out of the future.

On the downside though, the '67s are definitely chunkier. And I think the interiors are a bit more low-rent looking. I think the '67 is the last full-sized Pontiac, for awhile, that really gets me excited, though. I never cared for the '68 at all, and it's probably my least favorite 60's Pontiac. I thought the '69 was an improvement, even if the overall design was plumper, still. I think it's the beak...it seems like it's integrated better for '69.

uplanderguy

I think the industry, or at least GM, instituted a bunch of safety things in the '67 model year, including the two-door front seatback latches we discussed at Hershey (yes, andre, grbeck, lemko and I met up at the show, good time, and good informational exchanges were had at every car we stopped to look at!). I think a lot of interior bright metal trim went away in the interest of additional padding across the divisions. Real wood (or veneer) did too.

I always thought I could like an Iris Mist '65 Bonneville Sports Coupe with the optional bucket seats and console, not often seen on non-convertible Bonnes. Although probably not a fan of the Bonne's longer wheelbase, I like the fastback roofline and taillamp treatment better than the Grand Prix.

uplanderguy

The assortment of cars at the Hershey show is astonishing. Not generally a prewar guy, but you have to be impressed seeing vehicles from the 1910's and 1920's motoring along into the show field. Hershey makes the cars drive onto and off the show field; trailers not allowed, which is very cool to watch.

Cars I would've liked to take home were the Honduras Maroon '62 Corvette, the only other Corvette besides a C8 I'd have ever wanted enough to buy. I'm reminded of "Route 66" (the show) and that to me it seems like sort-of a forgotten or at least overlooked model year. Trim is cleaned up, white coves gone, pastel colors gone, wide whites gone, 327 available and that's a good thing. This was was in the 'Historic Preservation' class, generally meaning not restored.

The '64 Avanti was also in that same showing class. I couldn't nitpick a single thing with this car or the '62 Corvette.

The blue '64 Gran Turismo Hawk was not in the show but for sale in the Car Corral. Very unusual combination on a Hawk, and I like it. I can nitpick the decklid-mounted antenna, which I don't care for and which I'm about 51% sure was no longer available on a '64. Guy was asking $34K.

uplanderguy

for fin. These cars were for sale. I'm pretty sure the last photo goes with the convertible. The 180 is a Diesel.

fintail

Looks like the Ponton might be 10K? If so, and if it is as nice as it looks, could be a really good price, just bear in mind something like that will be hilariously slow.

I assume the Pagoda is a 280SL and is maybe a Euro car as it has the headlights and no sidemarkers. Pagodas can bring that money, but they have to be 280SL and need to be genuinely pristine.

uplanderguy

RE.: The Ponton, I think it was above $10K but not $20K asking price.

uplanderguy

Since it's October, digging this pic out again. I like the pic and miss the car. From 2007 I'm thinking. Taken by a friend who was a cameraman at a Cleveland TV station, who was into photography as a hobby. This was his idea.
My '63 Lark Daytona in Mantua, Ohio.

fintail

uplanderguy said:

RE.: The Ponton, I think it was above $10K but not $20K asking price.

20K would likely be optimistic unless it was really excellent. The problem with those cars and diesel fintails both is that they are kind of 1930s performance (and I don't mean a Ford V8) in a 1950s body. Beautiful build quality like a fine watch, but usage can be limited.

roadburner

This clip of Kraftwerk performing "Autobahn" popped up on my YT feed. I remember when it originally aired on The Midnight Special in 1975. I was especially enamored with the tinted footage of a W116 on the 90 degree banking of the M-B test track...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJM9xpvMbJ0

imidazol97

Beautiful

uplanderguy said:

I feel 18 again when I see this era Corvette--Route 66 influence.
This one has wheels that somewhat fit the image at least they don't distract for me.

kyfdx

Wheels aren't terrible. Reminiscent of Cragars. But, a little bigger than looks good, I think.

Makes me wonder if the drivetrain/suspension has been similarly "modernized".

ab348

I've never driven or even sat in a C1 Corvette. When I see one like in the pic with a hardtop but even one at a show with the top down, I look at the driving position and wonder how anyone who isn't of slight frame and slim build even gets behind the wheel. They look very tight. Am I mistaken in that?

andre1969

I'd imagine those early Corvettes have to be horribly cramped inside. That jogged a memory for me. About 20 years ago, I was at the repair shop, and one of the mechanics was moving a '55 or so T-bird. This guy was about my height, 6'3". When I saw how cramped he looked in the car, I mentioned that it looked uncomfortable as hell. All he commented was, "IT IS!!"

texases

I spent some time watching the B-J auction this weekend - what a disappointment. Seemed like 90% of the vehicles were overdone 'customs', with new engines, suspensions, interiors, and some of the most hideous wheels I've seen. This includes at least two split-window C2 Vettes, to which the announcer said 'no great loss as long as it didn't start off with fuel injection'. Yikes!

fintail

roadburner said:

This clip of Kraftwerk performing "Autobahn" popped up on my YT feed. I remember when it originally aired on The Midnight Special in 1975. I was especially enamored with the tinted footage of a W116 on the 90 degree banking of the M-B test track...

The high bank test track "Steilkurve" is something of a legend for MB people, very much like the brand of old to do stuff like this:



On the Kraftwerk note, there's a fintail on the album cover, and someone on YT made this now vintage-looking animation of related cars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVr7kdS5kC4

uplanderguy

They look very tight. Am I mistaken in that?

No, you are not. I've heard for years they are tight.

I've only sat in one, once, about ten years ago. At a local cruise was a '62 in the worst possible factory color, "Almond Beige"....think coffee with too much cream in it. Owner said he'd heard, or seen paperwork....I can't remember which....that showed the original owner traded it on a '63.

I told him I loved '62's and he asked if I'd ever sat in one. I said 'no', and he said, 'hop in'. No matter what I did with the seat--and I have very short legs--my big gut hit the wheel. The wheel is big, and it's straight up and down in those cars.

I absolutely love the one I pictured, but in reality it would probably be uncomfortable for me to drive.

explorerx4

This is a pic of me and the wife in a 59. Give me the white coves no matter what the color.
I "was" at least 6'1" back then. Had no problem fitting in or driving the car.
Pic was taken in Warren, MI, just off 8 Mile. 2nd owner still has it.

fintail

Kind of an oddity today - first gen Kia Sportage. Two door. Soft top. Looked brand new, like someone had actually thoroughly restored it, or it is grandpa's baby only driven on holidaty weekends.

explorerx4

Spotted this monster while in CT over the weekend.

fintail

Those late run big GPs always remind me of this:

stickguy

One of my favorite movies. Carrie fisher drove that

roadburner

I liked the 1973 SJ.

uplanderguy

While I like the exterior styling of the previous GP better than the '73, the first time I saw the interior on a '73, I was blown away. The seating and the instrument panel blow away the '69-72 IMHO, and also the rest of the '73 GM personal coupes IMHO.

sda

Agreed. Probably the best dash since the 65 Pontiac full size. Our 73 Grand Am had the same instrument cluster which had real wood veneer. Unfortunately, it had the tendency to peel off as the car aged...at least down south.

uplanderguy

Probably the best dash since the 65 Pontiac full size.

My sentiments exactly.

Grand Prix, when introduced, was only available with buckets and console, and even when split-back bench seat was offered starting in '65, seems like most Grand Prixs had buckets and console. In my mind, unscientifically, that carried over into the '73 and probably '74 model years, compared to the other GM midsize personal coupes. I feel like maybe in '75-77, I started seeing more Grand Prixs with a notchback bench seat. But boy, that '73 dash and console and high-back bucket seats, were beyond compare to my eyes.

andre1969

I'm guessing the Grand Prix got de-contented a bit for 1975, to hold the line on prices? According to my old car book, the '74 Grand Prix started at $4936. It was $5296 for 1975, so it did go up in price. However, inflation was like 11-12% back then, so factoring in inflation, it was actually cheaper. For reference, from October 1973 to October 1974, inflation was 12.06%, according to an online calculator I used. I picked October-October, because that was towards the beginning of each model year.

For 1976, the Grand Prix started at $4798, so it was definitely de-contented. That year the standard engine was a 350-2bbl, whereas it had been a 400-2bbl in 1975. There had been a more upscale LJ and SJ for '75, but my book treats them as option packages, rather than trim levels, so no breakout on production or cost. For 1976, it lists the LJ as a $625 option package for the base model (for $5423), and the SJ at $5223. The SJ had a 400-4bbl standard.

For 1977, the base price went to $5120, but I'm wondering if that was mostly thanks to inflation? Although, according to the inflation calculator, from October 1975 to October 1976, inflation was only 5.46%. The Grand Prix had really taken off in sales for 1976, so maybe Pontiac simply got confident they could charge more? It sold even better for 1977. Incidentally, that year the base engine dropped to a 301. The LJ was priced at $5483 and the SJ at $5753. The SJ still had a 400 standard (most likely 403 in CA/high altitude areas)

uplanderguy

I've said it before, but I didn't like whatever year in '73-77 that Pontiac added the flimsy-looking Monte Carlo interior door strap, right on top of the best-looking interior door panel woodgrain out there at the time! LOL

uplanderguy

I find this recent purchase by the fellow who bought my '66 Studebaker Cruiser last year, remarkable, even if you're not into Studebakers. It is the third-from-last Studebaker built, with documentation, and has turned over just 100 miles. Was in the Harrah Collection for a long time. It passed all the authenticity things (as it should). My old '66 is nose-to-nose to it in some pics on this link--too many pics to post here. Pass by if Studebakers don't do anything for you, but I posted here due to the ridiculously low mileage.

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/general-studebaker-specific-discussion/2041584-the-3rd-last-66-studebaker/page1

andre1969

Interesting. I didn't know that Studebakers used those bags for the windshield washer fluid, too. My DeSoto has one of those. It says "Jiffy-Jet" or something like that on it.

Also, interesting that for a "compact", it has a pretty generous load capacity, judging by that sticker. 1100 lb total. IIRC, my '67 Catalina, a full-size, is only listed at something like 1200.

uplanderguy

Interesting about the Chevy engines (i.e., "McKinnon Industries, a subsidiary of GM")--at least with the V8, a normal Chevy 283 air filter element won't fit in the housing. The housing is short to clear the hood. I bought three NOS filters for something like a total of $50, still in the Studebaker boxes, when I bought my car in 2017.

xwesx

uplanderguy said:

I find this recent purchase by the fellow who bought my '66 Studebaker Cruiser last year, remarkable, even if you're not into Studebakers. It is the third-from-last Studebaker built, with documentation, and has turned over just 100 miles. Was in the Harrah Collection for a long time. It passed all the authenticity things (as it should). My old '66 is nose-to-nose to it in some pics on this link--too many pics to post here. Pass by if Studebakers don't do anything for you, but I posted here due to the ridiculously low mileage.

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/general-studebaker-specific-discussion/2041584-the-3rd-last-66-studebaker/page1

Oh, my gosh.... that garage is so amazing! eight bays nose to nose. I am drooling on my keyboard here.

Also, I love the color on the new ride. It nearly looks black in the garage, but it really pops in the sun!

uplanderguy

That is an impressive garage. As clean as a new car dealer service department.

uplanderguy

Smart Motors, the selling dealer of that '66 Stude, is still around and it is a large Toyota dealership now. They acquired Toyota and Volvo in 1966. New location from then of course.

imidazol97

Classic Car mag features a Chryler Newport 1961 with 3- speed transmission, manual. Rare

uplanderguy

Next town over, saw a very nice, bright red '68 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, stock and straight except for blackwall tires and Cragar mags. Very nice. Factory skirts. Had no A/C as when I drove past it, I could see it didn't have the vents at the top of the center of the dash, but that padded insert there.

stickguy

Driving on the Northway (I87) a very early RIviera. In a light minty green. very sharp car, before they became almost IMO caricatures of themselves.

later on local roads, a Chevy SSR PU with the top down driving around. Not sure I ever saw that in person before.

xwesx

stickguy said:

later on local roads, a Chevy SSR PU with the top down driving around. Not sure I ever saw that in person before.

I haven't seen one in several years now, and never with the top off. Unusual sight indeed!