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

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  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    I saw a Nissan sedan larger than an Altima today. From what I could tell, it was a 2004 Maxima! It looked like an Altima except with a longer trunk and slightly higher roofline.
  • idletaskidletask Member Posts: 171
    A rare car by all means. I still drool when I see one, its lines are definitely superb (to my eyes at least), "even though" it was designed by a man named Chris Bangle.
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    Although somewhat obscure by some people's standards, I read a book today entitled "Saab 99 and 900: The Complete Story." The author who wrote this excellent book admitted that the 99 and 900 did have some chronic problems that Saab failed to correct over the years, such as poor fit and finish, head gaskets that blew constantly, self-destructing transmissions, and just plain weird engineering. Maybe Mr. Shiftright can back me up on this.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    The Saab 900 is a highly ubiquitous car that has only become bigger because they're still chugging around used. Not obscure by any means.

    Can anyone tell me if the new Maxima is due out any time soon? Because I know what I saw!
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Also I saw my first Honda Element. Actually looks a lot bigger in real life, and is sort of cool. Unlike the Aztek, the lines are congruous and it looks like it's highly utilitarian. And sort of blocky which makes me think it will sell. The Aztek was more like anm elephant in tiptoes.
  • popkwizzpopkwizz Member Posts: 17
    Bathtub green and about 20 feet long. Sits on the street in Berkeley like an alligator in waiting.
  • idletaskidletask Member Posts: 171
    That was yesterday night. Always an event to see such a car. It was at a stoplight so I had the opportunity to look the car all around, causing the driver of the car to smile at the guy who just looked like a 5 year old raving about an inaccessible toy (me).
  • wq59bwq59b Member Posts: 61
    About 3 weeks ago I saw a '47 Hudson pick-up behind a body shop. Unfortunately there was extremely little 'body' left on it. Also in there is a 1940 Ford F-6 cab-over stake body (I was considering it, but too rotted), a '56 Continental Mark II, a '59 Buick Invicta coupe, a '65 Cadillac hearse, a '52 Studebaker convertible (~shudder~ like looking at a skeleton)... dozens more, most too far gone to save but still wonderful to see & touch.

    The gentleman also owns a beautifully restored '42 Lincoln V-12 sedan and a sweet '33 Lincoln convertible coupe.
  • idletaskidletask Member Posts: 171
    I guess I've been really lucky to see one at all, as only 200 of them have been scheduled for France. I was quite sure that it was a real one and not some tuned car when it passed me like I were at a dead stop at 70 mph... An ST 170 would have been unable to do that!

    I dream of driving one some day... But there's none at the local Ford dealership...
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Even though I own a Focus and love it, I would do almost anything to own an Alfa 147 GTA - the Focus would be a distant second choice in my hot hatch book.
  • tariktarik Member Posts: 344
    ...This is the BIG ticket:


    image

  • alfoxalfox Member Posts: 708
    Welcome back! See you on the other side (when I can get in...)
  • docmeyerdocmeyer Member Posts: 6
    some sort of late model (new) Bentley, duuuuude was chilling.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    I saw 2 Honda Elements this morning. I have to admit I find them to be really cool.
  • idletaskidletask Member Posts: 171
    Toyota Prius. The first one I've ever seen.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Wow, really? I see probably 1 a day here.
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    ...I saw one of these, sitting in a parking space in an industrial corridor (along Ravenswood Avenue north of Irving Park, for those familiar with Chicago), in not great condition:

    http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/3/0/40655630.htm

    I also saw two 1960 Fords (a two-door hardtop and a Country Sedan wagon) parked one in front of the other on California near Berteau.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    that's a good price on that Alfa GTV if it's as nice as it looks (one never knows). They are great cars to drive and own once you find a mechanic who would actually read the fuel injection manual and do what it says.

    They are susceptible to rust unfortunately, so bring your magnet.
  • caramocaramo Member Posts: 93
    Custom paint job. . . a metallic rust and khaki combo that looked like technicolor barf.

    A real beauty, that one. . .
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    I saw another red Ford Ka last night, with Tamaulipas Mexico license plates.
  • idletaskidletask Member Posts: 171
    Painted dark blue. Seen in Honfleur, the most Parisian-laden town on weekends after Deauville, of course. Coincidentally this one had a Paris license plate and driven by a blonde that was more busy babbling on her cell phone than driving. Irritating!
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    ...a few months ago, on my way to work, I came up behind a mid-sized wagon that I didn't recognize.

    I slid up beside it and found that it was a Ford Mondeo Estate. I think it had Michigan plates.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Was it the 1993-1999 version or the 2000-current version?
  • ajvdhajvdh Member Posts: 223
    A mid-80s Toyota pickup (one of the small ones) with dual wheels in the rear, along with the appropriately flared fenders.

    I was very confused. Usually, duallies imply a significant increase in towing capacity. How much can you tow with a very light chassis and a small 4 cylinder engine?
  • alfoxalfox Member Posts: 708
    A Bentley Continental ragtop. I thought they were all coupes these days, so I couldn't tell the year. Looked as-new, though, and much smaller than I expected.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    ...evidently, there was a heavy-duty model of the small Toyota pickup back in the '80's. I forget whether it was a 3/4 ton or 1-ton model. It wasnt' available in the U.S., but was sold in other markets, like Mexico, I believe. It's possible a few of them made it into the U.S. though.

    We did have a version of that truck in the States however...the cab/chassis was used for the Dolphin minimotorhome.
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    I think it was the post-2000 redesigned version. Dark blue, very nice looking.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    How big would you estimate it was? I've seen sedan Mondeos before and hatch models but never the estate.
  • argentargent Member Posts: 176
    There was a Bentley Continental convertible from 1984-1994, a few of which were built to Turbo spec. It was restyled somewhat by Pininfarina for '95 and became the Bentley Azure. The last of the old-school Bentley Azure models, labeled "Final Series," will be sold this summer, after which they'll be replaced by the entirely new Continental, the first engineered under the auspices of Bentley's new owner, Volkswagen.
  • kw_carmankw_carman Member Posts: 114
    Saw my first Honda Element today. It had dealer tags and was randomly sitting far out in the parking lot of our rural/suburban shopping center. With a nice dark green shade, it didn't look as bad as I would have thought, but I still wouldn't waste my money on it.
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    I saw one two or three days ago. It surprises me that I haven't seen more, given their relatively low price. This one was black and had Alabama plates.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Too bad it's dark out right now - there is a gorgeous black GTO convertible parked near my house.

    Here's the best I could do:

    image
  • blh7068blh7068 Member Posts: 375
    ' 68...sweet!! 1968 is one of my favorite years for the goat.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Something's wrong with it, though. The car is sitting too high.
  • chris396chris396 Member Posts: 53
    A lot of the supposedly stock replacement springs make the cars sit too high.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Ah, okay. Too bad, makes the car look funny.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    just keep looking better and better. Put that GTO up for auction and it will probably draw a handsome price, incorrect modifications or not.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Well it looks great to someone like me who knows next to nothing about 60's cars.
  • tariktarik Member Posts: 344
    ...sitting too high might have to do with the wheel wells being illuminated in magneto's picture. You don't usually see the inner area that well, and they normally also blend better with the tire color. Those rubbers also seem a tiny little bit too small for the buging fenders of this model. Gorgeous to look at it is anyway...
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    Do not get me wrong. There is no complaint from me here. That is a beautiful car.

    I really hope that Mr. Lutz can bring some of that late '60s design magic back to GM (note I did not say engineering).

    Does your neighbor drive it all the time, or is it usually parked?
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    ...even some of that engineering magic couldn't hurt, either. Rotors that don't warp and intake manifolds that don't crack are definitely a good thing ;-)

    GM could use some of that build quality, too. Back in the late 60's, GM cars tended to be some of the best-finished products out there, whereas today they build some of the worst (I'm just talking about panel gaps, even-ness of the body panels, etc...how they LOOK, not necessarily how they'll hold up over years of abuse)
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    It's not my neighbor's car.. my neighbor has a brand new Passat that usually sits in that spot. Maybe it's her boyfriend's car or something.
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    My father had one in white, bought new, sold in '74. Wish it was still in the family.

    Ed
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...had a '65 GTO in maroon with a white top. He got rid of it in 1975. I wish he'd have kept it and passed it on to me. I don't know what happed to my Dad's taste in cars since then. Today, he drives a 1997 Mercury Mystique! Yuck!
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    You won't believe the amount of obscure cars I saw on the road during lunch time today.

    - A Renault LeCar in silver, 5-door, with a "LeCar" decal on each side door, about as tall as the door itself

    - A Honda Element in green (these are becoming less and less obscure, I've seen probably 6 or 7)

    - A bright orange Cadillac CTS. This thing was so ugly that you almost wanted to give it a hug in the parking lot. Sort of like an ugly dog or cat whose owners just love it. This car supposedly sells nearly as much as the G35, yet I see about 8 G35's to 1 CTS. I've seen four or five coupe G35's already, and still the CTS is scarce on these roads.

    - A Pontiac Aztek with a giant spoiler a la tuner Civics or an O-Z rally Lancer

    - An early 1970's two-door Toyota Land Cruiser

    - My coworker bought a Nissan Murano.

    What a lunch hour!
  • alfoxalfox Member Posts: 708
    "A Pontiac Aztek with a giant spoiler a la tuner Civics or an O-Z rally Lancer..."

    Where'd they mount it, on top?!?
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    The CTS sells more than the G35. I find the orange a little over the top.

    But, I also find the orange a little over the top on the G35's Nissan Z cousin.

    Speaking of over the top, I saw a BMW 745 on Saturday. It was black with apparently aftermarket chrome strips defining the window openings and other creases. The car is so angular the chrome looked like razor blades ready to slice the unwary driver who strays too close.
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    Could it have been a 745Li? Those have chrome strips running over the windows. Not sure what other chrome accents they have.
  • checkmecheckme Member Posts: 73
    We spent the weekend in San Francisco. Wow- what an obscure car paradise that city is!

    1. 1958 Cadillac sedan
    2. 1956 Chevrolet sedan
    3. A Chevrolet Apache- it's an SUV, and looked to be from the 40's or 50's.
    4. A 60's Alfa Romeo- don't know which one, but it was a coupe, and was beautiful.
    6. Not one, but two Subraru SVX's, both in dark green.
    7. A 1978 Chrysler LeBaron
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Yeah, the spoiler was mounted on top - it looked like a lawn mower.

    I'm surprised that the CTS sells more..I imagine by not very much. It must be a regional thing. Or they must do many of the sales in GM's traditionally strong markets like the Midwest.
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