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

texases

Two nice ones: an early first-generation NSX (pop-up headlights), black, clean, the 75-ish driver dropping off mail. 10 minutes later a ‘69 Mustang, shaker hood, stripes, looked in good shape.

explorerx4

A 63 Ford Galaxie 2 door hardtop. A rosy beige with a white painted sports roof.

fintail

Had the old car out this morning and saw a few unusual things on the road on maybe the final warm day of the season - Aerio hatch, SX4 notchback, 67 Cougar, 69 Mustang fastback, big 68 Pontiac fastback coupe, probable 46-48 GM intermediate convertible (likely Chevy) a ways behind me in traffic, 70s VW van, restored looking squarebody 4x4

fintail

Parked down the street from my house today, an 88-92 626 sedan with Porsche style wheels and JDM style fender mirrors odd combination.

uplanderguy

Driving past Lou Wollam Chevrolet in Cortland, OH yesterday morning, probably about 40 miles from where I live, they had an SSR parked outside. I couldn't tell if it was parked for service or to show it off as a used vehicle, but it had nothing parked very near it.

Grew up Chevy, but those never did anything for me.

andre1969

I wonder if the SSR would have done better, if it had been based on a full-sized Silverado, rather than that midsized Trailblazer platform? To me, it always seemed like a 2-seater sports car masquerading as a truck.

I guess I'm also a bit old fashioned, where I look at a truck as something you buy, to do truck things with. People do buy them, and customize them to their own tastes, which in the process might limit their capability (less ground clearance, doing things that might reduce their load capacity, etc). But, they still start with a basic truck, and then put their own spin on it.

I imagine there's not as much market for a truck that the factory already put their own customizing-spin on. Although with some imagination, I'm sure people have bought them, and customized them further.

I think the early ones also weren't that great of a performer. But in the final couple years, didn't they put a stronger engine in? They also weren't exactly cheap, as I recall. Didn't they cost about as much as a base Corvette? The retractable top might have also been a bit too gimmicky for some people. Just making it stationary, with a retractable option, might have made it more popular.

explorerx4

Maybe the last of the warm days for the year.
Saw 2 Porsche 911 993's.
A black wide body wth a whale tail, so maybe a Turbo and a nice silver narrow body.

uplanderguy

andre, not sure about a stronger engine in the later years; I just wasn't that interested in those at the time. I do remember them being expensive. I'm thinking, but not sure, that it was essentially an auto-show thing that people responded positively to so they decided to actually build them.

Agree on making the retractable top optional.

There are some styling cues from the '47 to (first series) '55 pickups, which seem(ed) popular.

I used to see that era old Chevy pickup being used for work until maybe 30 or 35 years ago. I saw more of them still on the road than the next couple generations of Chevy pickups. Probably a combination of being durable and also them building a gazillion of them over the run.

ab348

andre1969 said:

I wonder if the SSR would have done better, if it had been based on a full-sized Silverado, rather than that midsized Trailblazer platform? To me, it always seemed like a 2-seater sports car masquerading as a truck.

I guess I'm also a bit old fashioned, where I look at a truck as something you buy, to do truck things with. People do buy them, and customize them to their own tastes, which in the process might limit their capability (less ground clearance, doing things that might reduce their load capacity, etc). But, they still start with a basic truck, and then put their own spin on it.

They were in no way, shape or form ever intended to be a truck and were never marketed as such. They were "inspired by" a truck as if some hot-rodder had taken one and removed all the trucky aspects of it to make it a cruiser. How it got approved by a company that was headed into bankruptcy and restructuring says a lot about the mindset within upper echelons of GM at the time. Unlike the HHR which came along around the same time and actually had a useful purpose, this thing just never made any sense to me.

texases

Anyone here ever see the Dakota convertible? Closest I can think of. I don’t remember seeing one.

Michaell

texases said:

Anyone here ever see the Dakota convertible? Closest I can think of. I don’t remember seeing one.

I’ve seen a few over the years.

andre1969

I've seen those Dakota convertibles every once in awhile, but it's been ages. They probably show up at the Mopar Nationals at Carlisle PA in pretty good numbers.

ab348

texases said:

Anyone here ever see the Dakota convertible? Closest I can think of. I don’t remember seeing one.

Except that was actually built on a truck platform.

andre1969

Didn't GM sort of shoot themselves in the foot with that new Trailblazer/Envoy/etc design? One thing I sort of remember was that 3-row SUVs were starting to catch on more, and the design didn't really lend itself well to that, so they had to stretch out the wheelbase and body, to get a 3rd row in. Meanwhile, I think the redesigned Explorer and Durango were able to do it with just one body length.

But, on the plus side, I wonder if the GM 3rd row seat might have been roomier and more comfortable, and perhaps it had more cargo room as well?

I just seem to recall that, in general, that generation wasn't all that well-received. But the market was also starting to shift more towards unit-body, car-based crossovers and SUVS too, which might have stolen some of their thunder.

uplanderguy

I doubted the sense of the Prowler, too, when it arrived.

That TrailBlazer was seen all over the place where I live. Friends of ours bought a new 2007 and only got rid of it a couple, three at the most, years ago because the underneath of it was looking like fatal rust.

I did hate the looks of the three-row version--obviously stretched and not a good look, on top of the original not being a great look, LOL.

I don't believe I've seen a Dakota convertible. I'll have to Google it.

andre1969

Yeah, rust is definitely more of an issue out your way, Uplander. I can remember going out to Cedar Point one year, and seeing a black Park Ave, of the same vintage as my old 2000, that was so rusted out, it made an early Vega or '76 Volare look bank-vault solid! I know that's only a sample of one, but here in Maryland, I still see the occasional Park Ave, LeSabre, or Century/Regal of that era, and they usually look rust-free.

Although, underneath could still be an issue. It seems like these days, cars will rust out underneath, in the sub-frames, suspension components, and other under-carriage areas, while the bodies still look nice and shiny. Now that I think about it, even my uncle's '97 Silverado was looking pretty bad underneath, by the time he let me use it as a trade-in for my Ram in September 2012. Meanwhile, my Granddad's '85 Silverado, which was subjected to the same conditions, still looked fairly solid in the frame and such, although some of the sheetmetal was rusting. Mostly around the rear wheel openings, and in the cab where the rocker panel joins the back part of the cab. Maybe lower parts of the front fenders, too.

I think the Prowler was one of those types of concepts, like the SSR, that looked good at car shows, and got a lot of good press. Probably scored well with marketing focus groups and such. But, just because someone thinks something looks cool, and they like it, doesn't mean they're going to cought up the big bucks to buy it! Also, only being offered with a 3.5 V6 and 4-speed automatic probably turned off a lot of buyers for something that was supposed to be a "halo" car.

uplanderguy

Just Googled a Dakota convertible. Never knew or saw (that I know) one. 'Course, in the '90's, I was busy with work, kids, and ill parents, and my new-car excitement was at an all-time-low up until to that time.

Two somewhat-later cars I predicted would be a hit, and I missed on both counts: The Caliber, and the HHR panel. I actually saw the latter on delivery trucks before I had even heard they were going to make them. Thought the customizer set would like them. Seems like they went nowhere.

uplanderguy

Well, I forwarded the link for that third-from-last '66 Studebaker with 100 miles, to Smart Motors on their 'contact us' page. Figured someone there might know someone in the family or organization who'd be interested to know it was a car sold there new. Zero response in several days.

Similarly, I found the name and address of the son of the original owners of my '66 Stude, a few years back. I wrote, sent photos, and included a SASE for a response....twice. Heard nothing.

If someone told me they owned a car my Dad had owned, I'd want to hear from them. Now, the son was born in 1935, so who knows what his health might have been.

As my wife reminded me, most people are not interested in automobiles, sigh.

fintail

I've seen a Dakota convertible now and then, I wonder if they were more of a coastal thing.

Not far from me is a GMC Typhoon or clone - it's pretty rough, has most of the side cladding and complete rear, but missing the front end. Most were preserved, so it gives me pause. Maybe someone actually drove it.

Went to an estate sale bright and early today - no cars but they had a "rebuilt" Buick 231, a "rebuilt" engine from a 70s VW van (I think), a couple of "working when pulled" C6s out of barge Thunderbirds, and a pile of parts from related cars and 40s Lincolns of all things - didn't browse that stuff too hard as was there for collectibles Christmas shopping (for mom, of course).

kyfdx

Saw quite a few Dakota convertibles around here, back in the day.

roadburner

Another live Kraftwerk Autobahn clip- with some classic footage...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DO-Ddqbqgs

gsemike

Spotted an electric Silverado this morning. Not sure what the official model name is:

I like the styling tweaks here. I know that it shares a lot with the Hummer pickup , but somehow this looks lean to me, in a good way also didn't notice before today that it has that avalanche style B pillar

xwesx

I really like the new Avalanche. I think it is a shame they called it Silverado.

uplanderguy

Barn Finds has a Dakota convertible.

https://barnfinds.com/rare-drop-top-1990-dodge-dakota-convertible-pickup/

I remember now, that when the Dakota was introduced, it was somewhat revolutionary as a mid-sized pickup, and V8 was available. I think the simple styling has aged pretty well.

tjc78

@gsemike said:
Spotted an electric Silverado this morning. Not sure what the official model name is:

I like the styling tweaks here. I know that it shares a lot with the Hummer pickup , but somehow this looks lean to me, in a good way also didn't notice before today that it has that avalanche style B pillar

It does all the same shenanigans with the bed and rear passenger area the old Avalanche did

explorerx4

Rare CTS V for sale.
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1G6DV1EP0B0150629?partner=CTO_8&utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=mid_blue&utm_id=462951&cto_pld=3NgcW8w8AADPI07fK_hBVw

fintail

looks like the kind of thing one would sell to buy a Cybertruck

Saw a tin top Samurai this morning

stickguy

I never understood wanting to have the bed fully open to the cab so all the dirt would just cover the floors, and of course it would flood if it rained.

stickguy

a few blocks from me recently there has been a nice green '67 CPO in a driveway. Looks very clean.

and out driving today a square body dually Chevy PU, slammed on the ground. Weird. And a super clean and original looking 1970ish Ford F150. Butternut yellow. single cab of course.

uplanderguy

What's a CPO?

andre1969

Is it actually "COPO?" I found this blurb on Motortrend, when I searched for it...

"For those of you unfamiliar with the acronym COPO, it stands for Central Office Production Order, and it was a paperwork system that let Chevy dealers order cars that really weren't meant to be built. It was an automotive workaround—a "cheat code," if you're into video games—and it was glorious."

I've heard the phrase "CPO/COPO" thrown around over the years, but never knew anything about it.

kyfdx

I'm guessing that isn't what @stickguy is referring to...

andre1969

stickguy said:

I never understood wanting to have the bed fully open to the cab so all the dirt would just cover the floors, and of course it would flood if it rained.

It probably made sense if you were just running to Lowes or Home Depot and getting some lumber or other long objects. Or maybe bringing a sofa home. But it's not something you're going to haul a cubic yard of loose topsoil home in!

I'd definitely be worried about how good the seals around the midgate are though, especially as it aged.

stickguy

my fat thumbs and the phones auto correct don't always play nice. No clue how GTO turned into CPO

ab348

stickguy said:

my fat thumbs and the phones auto correct don't always play nice. No clue how GTO turned into CPO

Well, at least you got the O right.

gsemike

Fox body 5.0 Capri

Looks like a nice original car. I liked these when new

roadburner

At last night’s car show I parked near my friend’s 1961 Chevy. When he bought it it was a pure drag racer, but he made it street legal. Early on it had no passenger seat; you sat on a beanbag chair and held on to the roll cage for dear life.

explorerx4

Insanity.
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1J4GS5874LP504323?partner=CTO_8&utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=mid_blue&utm_id=462951&cto_pld=6FSfysw8AACO7zh-i9GwVQ

stickguy

for that price is it at least one of the ones that was fully rebuilt like new? Looks like just a nicely kept old car.

those seem to have quite the following. I don't get it, but to each their own!

fintail

Today on the road spotted a red Achieva sedan and a Datsun 210 (not B210) hatch.

kyfdx

fintail said:

Today on the road spotted a red Achieva sedan and a Datsun 210 (not B210) hatch.

Sad

andre1969

My memory's fuzzy on the exact year now, but I remember around 1996 or so, we got a fleet of five Achieva sedans for the motor pool. I was in logistics back then, and more privy to the cost of equipment. It was something like $65,000 for the lot of them, so $13,000 apiece. Mediocre cars, but I guess at that price, not bad at all!

Supposedly, contractors aren't supposed to drive the government vehicles, but one day, one of the big-wigs forgot something at his house, about 30 miles away. So he got authorization for me to take a government car out to his place and pick up his documents. I ended up getting one of the Achievas. I don't really remember much about it, so maybe that's not a bad thing. If it left a bad enough impression on me, I'm sure I would have remembered it!

I don't know how long those Achievas stayed in circulation, but they're long gone, now. I remember we had a few Corsicas in the mix, but can't remember anything else. I've seen old pics from the late 70s and early 80s of the center, and back then it seemed like the fleet cars were very AMC-heavy. Concordes, Hornets, Matadors, as I recall.

Our project got moved offsite in 2010, and by that time we had an '06+ Impala assigned to us. I drove it, once as well. It had been in the motor pool garage for some kind of servicing and needed to be picked up. So the secretary drove me over in her car, and I drove the Impala back. I'm convinced cars like that Impala are why backup cameras are mandatory these days. Visibility out the back was almost non-existent!

I mostly work from home these days, and don't go in the office all that often. When I do, I usually enter the building from the opposite side of where our fleet car is parked. I'm kinda curious, the next time we go in, to see if we still have that Impala.

I once had a co-worker who had an Achieva coupe. I thought it was a pretty sharp looking car, actually. Of those 2nd-gen N-bodies, I liked the Achieva the best, overall.

uplanderguy

I thought the Achieva coupe was the best-looking of all the N's too. Simple styling. The sedan had that rear wheel opening abruptly cut off at the top horizontally, a la the Ninety-Eights of that general period. Don't care for that.

The Skylark to my eyes, went way out of its way to have bird-like looks, especially upfront.

I'd wager the Grand Am was the best-seller of the bunch, but was never a fan of cladding (may have been not an issue on that gen), or Pontiac's instrument panels of that period.

sda

The Achieva had a very Olds like front end and the best dashboard of the three.

uplanderguy

That is an attractive instrument panel. I didn’t remember how nice it looked.

fintail

I always thought the Achieva (and Skylark), had something off in the proportions, especially the sedan when viewed from the rear quarter. The beaky Skylark added to that. I recall when I was in college I knew a girl who had one - at the time still a late model car, it didn't take me long to crack "underachieva"

Thinking of 06+ style Impalas, I remember having one as a rental, and not being in love - the A-pillar was not very ergonomic, and something about the angle of it and the roof had me hitting my head upon entry. The definition of a mediocre car - they seem to take plenty of abuse, but not a paragon of design or refinement. And thinking of surplus government vehicles, I recall my uncle, upon exiting the Army around 1979, picked up a super cheap fleet surplus Hornet. He replaced it with an Omni 024 not much later.

uplanderguy

I thought the '06+ Impala was styled decently, especially with the polished aluminum wheels it seemed most had. I liked that you could select brushed metal or fake wood instrument panel applique. But I had plenty for rentals. Tight in the back seat, and low seating position. I much-preferred driving the concurrent Malibu, especially the model that had perforated suede seating (called 'Ultralux').

Just yesterday I was in my hometown, meeting an old college friend for lunch and in the restaurant parking lot, a FB friend of mine pulled up in one of those Impalas. It looked in good shape for rusty NW PA, and had the polished aluminum wheels I thought looked good.

To my eyes, those Impalas certainly were styled better than the 2000-2005, that always left me thinking, "Huh?".

fintail

I am sure the two pairs of rear lights on an Impala (channeling its inner Skyline) still irks some old timers.

Saw the 210 again today, noticed it has goofy fender mirrors - JDM wannabes are a thing. Saw that 626 with similar mirrors today too.

explorerx4

A perfect 59 Chevy Bel Air coupe coming out of a dev where could only see the landscaping and the car.
Felt like it could have been a flashback to 1959.
Not the best looking Celica but a perfect day for having the top down.

andre1969

I just pulled up some Skyline pics, and now, the first thing that pops into my mind is '73 Chevelle! With the 2000-05 Impala, I don't mind so much that it had 2 taillights on each side rather than three. But, I think the proportioning was a bit awkward. The rear was high, and tapered, and the taillights were a bit widely spaced. The wide spacing was most likely predicated by the trunk opening, as the inner lights were on the decklid itself.

One thing I'll say for the 2000-2005 Impala though, is that it dared to be somewhat unique. Even if the overall effect isn't the most eye-pleasing (to me at least). In contrast, I think the 2006+ Impala, as well as the 1995-99 Lumina sedan, have better proportioning, and visually less jarring to me. But, they also come off as more anonymous looking.

I remember being back at the dealer for something or other, a few months after I bought my 2000 Intrepid. They also sold Chevies and Isuzus. When I bought the Intrepid, the only Impalas they had on the lot were pretty well-equipped, in the mid/upper $20K range. But, this time around, they had a couple of base models that had the 3.8 rather than the typical 3.4, and they were markdown-priced in the $17-18K range.

I did like my Intrepid, but will admit, at that price, those 3.8 base model Impalas were pretty tempting!