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

fintail

I saw what I believe was a 67 Camaro today. By the whitewalls, hubcaps, and vinyl top I'll guess it was a 6cyl.

I also spotted the Saab 9000 model that had a trunk (CD?) and a Merkur Scorpio.

jrosasmc

You're right, the notchback (trunked) model of the 9000 was the CD. It was only sold here from 1989 to 1995. You wouldn't want to buy one because Shifty will also attest that the 9000 series has more vices than virtues and the resale value is extremely awful.

andre1969

I saw a Peugeot 504 parked in a driveway, but I have to put a disclaimer on this...it was on "Mama's Family"! :P It was an episode where the family tried to teach Mama how to drive, and they had to do some exterior shots for a scene where Rue McClanahan tried to show Mama how to drive in her Dart Sport.

Interestingly, there were a lot of furrin vehicles in the background. Lots of Datsuns, a BMW 3-series parked at the curb a little beyond the 504, etc. Mama herself got sandwiched in between a big mid-70's Toronado and a Datsun pickup, and then a bit later almost hit a Rabbit and another (probably the same) Datsun pickup.

Y'know, for taking place in the mid-west and being shot in 1983, there were an awful lot of foreign cars out and about. And suspiciously, the small midwestern village of Raytown looks an awful lot like Southern California! :P

Okay, maybe I'm over-analyzing here, but the only other thing on this morning that caught my attention was "Gunsmoke", and there weren't any cars in that show to catch my eye...plus it was a repeat! :shades:

Saab 9000...I saw one of those too the other day.

stickguy

1970ish (gen 1) Celica coupe. Had a fair amount of primer on it. Couldn't tell if someone was actually trying to restore it, or just hold it together long enough to make it until spring.

ghulet

I rarely see these any more, but I did have the pleasure of driving one from Chicago to NYC about fifteen years ago, when the car was new. I think you all know I love SAABS, this one was wonderful, though I don't know if I'd buy one with a trunk rather than a hatch--after all, the hatch is one of SAAB's main virtues. Anyway, the 9000CD was kind a SAAB mixed with a 300E; same size, anyway. A nice, 'normal' looking car with great power, FWD, a roomy and plush interior, but, alas, all the SAAB vices (indeed, do you see 9000s any more on the road?) and electronic gremlins to boot.

fintail

I think I've seen 2 or 3 9000s in the past 6 months. There's a decent enough looking later model "Aero" one I see now and then.

Yesterday I saw a pretty decent c.69 Vista Cruiser in a color that was reminiscent of Ford's 'emberglow'.

Today I looked out my window and in the overflow lot for my building sat a white 56 T-Bird. Boy did it look out of place among all the moderns.

Mr_Shiftright

A Mitsubishi Sigma, whatever the hell that is. Looks like one of those clunky highline Volvos from the late 80s. The taped tail light lenses tell me parts are getting difficult :P

andre1969

the Mitsubishi Stigma! Gawd, I haven't seen one of those in years! Did it look kinda like this? I think the car got replaced by the Diamante in the US, but was still called Sigma elsewhere.

Mr_Shiftright

Yep,that's it. A shovel-nosed bar of soap with a shoebox lid on top.

andre1969

almost looks French to me. Maybe because I'm thinking of those Renault Medallions that they tried pushing here in the late 80's/early 90's? And that Premier/Dodge Monaco also had a creased, wedgy look to it, although it was beefier looking. IIRC, didn't that final Peugeot, the 405 or whatever, which was offered here in the US, have somewhat of a similar look?

kyfdx

I was behind a black Crown Vic.. Only it didn't have any Crown Vic markings.. The only nomenclature on the rear lid was Police Interceptor..

Definitely not a police car, though.. Was this a special package? It looked like a fairly recent model.

andre1969

it wasn't a sherriff's car or something? I don't pay much attention to them (just as long as they don't pull out from behind the bushes after me!), but I think all the police Crown Vics just say "police interceptor" on the rear and not "Crown Vic". I think the police cars tend to have more blackout trim on the rump than the civvy models, and a blackout honeycomb grille up front.

kyfdx

Pretty sure.. Had regular private car license plates.. no spotlight around the rear-view mirror, or anything like that.. Nice looking factory alloy wheels.. (Don't most of the police cars have steel wheels and hubcaps?).

Just looked like Grandpa's Crown Vic... only, it had the "police interceptor" designation...

andre1969

I'm not sure then. Ford was offering a sporty version of the Crown Vic for awhile that had bucket seats and a console, and I think some blackout trim. Seems odd they'd put "police interceptor" on it though.

And I don't think I've ever seen a copcar with alloys, unless it was an undercover/unmarked job. Many Crown Vic copcars these days at least have a full wheelcover instead of those stereotypical little dog-dishes, but it's still just a hubcap.

kyfdx

Yeah.. At first, I thought it was the police chief's car, or the city manager, or something like that..

But, civilian plates.. and nothing else to denote it had the "police package"...

I knew that trip to get a double cheeseburger was going to cause problems...

andre1969

I had a good pic of a Crown Vic showing off both its hupcaps and its rump lined up, but it was a tripod site and wouldn't let me link it! :mad:

I wonder if they'd sometimes put civvy plates on a police car just to fool us?

imidazol97

I've seen a car like that around here. It had blacked out name tags. Most items were black on the black paint. Did the Mercury Marauder had that. This car had license plates that said "pull over."

It had a box on the dash as if it had a light inside as an undercover car. I believe it's someone with a desire to be a policeman or to impersonate a policeman.

Were there any Dunkin Donut boxes you could see on the dash or the rear window? That might have identified a police car/undercover car for you.

kyfdx

Yeah.. the telltale sign.. powdered sugar on the door handles...

imidazol97

Years ago I researched speed traps before taking a trip to Scranton to the Steam Locomotive National Park for the munchkin. They mentioned an unused police car in median between Scranton/WilkersBarr. I saw it. There was a pile of Dunkin Donut boxes next to the driver's door.

Someone took the chance to stop and drop a bunch of donut boxes next to it!!! Great joke.

explorerx4

a police cv has a flat black panel between rhe rear lights.
don't forget to look for the dual exhaust too.
you can buy the 'police interceptor' badge mail order. just peel and stick.

ghulet

....it's certainly possible that someone bought a fairly recent but retired cop car and put some Crown Vic alloys on it, no?

kyfdx

Yeah.. if I could only see it now....

I noticed the black panels on andre's picture.. Unfortunately, the car I was behind was black, so I can't remember if it had panels, or paint....

I'll keep a lookout for it...

prosa

A "Saabaru" Saab 9-2X was parked next to my car in a mall parking lot this evening. I first thought it was an Outback Sport, then realized it was a 9-2X, first time I've seen one in months.

jlawrence01

The Crown Vic Police Interceptor is a specific model that is made by Ford. specifically for law enforcement. Municipalities can order them for non-police uses (and generally do) as they are a very good value and hold up better than most (if properly retrofitted).

Occasionally when I am bored, I go through all the spec's at the leasing companies' website.

boomchek

Greater Vancouver had some interesting marked cars, donated by the car dealers which include:

Mini Cooper S
Honda Civic Si hatchbacks
Jaguar S Type
Land Rover Disco
VW New Beetle
PT Cruiser

Unmarked cars include Chevy/GMC pickups with old canopies, Caravans, Contours, and the best one of all a Subaru Impreza coupe used to catch street racers.

gsemike

In NYC on Queens Blvd, I was very surprised to see a very nice new Grand Cherokee that was a cop car. It was black with tinted windown and impressive polished wheels. I was extremely surprised when he clicked his lights on and took off.

Also, a number of years ago I saw the police using a battered Ford Econoline doctored up to look like a laundry service van. They did a really good job on that as it had a little rust and the lettering looked weathered. Sometimes they're not as easy tp pick out as you think.

andre1969

there used to be a Buick Grand National that was used as an unmarked police car in Maryland.

michaellno

You know, I almost bought one of these back in the late 80's. Here is a picture of a turbo version:



And a picture of, I believe, a non-turbo version:

lemko

...two tone maroon and white 1956 Chevrolet 210 sedan in Fox Chase section of Philadelphia.

lemmer

I can only assume that Andre has been looking for the "Better Off Dead" Camaro. Here it is.

prosa

Saw a Mercedes R-class stopped at a light about an hour ago. One's been on display in a local mall for the past month but this is the first one I've seen on the road. It looks rather ungainly and unattractive, I'd have to say. The Pacifica may not be beautiful but at least has a certain stylishness that its larger relative completely lacks.

explorerx4

i think ct used to have some of those gn's. supposedly, they were opened up to do a buck and a half.

lemmer

Did nobody see "Better Off Dead" and want that Camaro?

lemmer

What was really scary about GN's is that they had speed governors not because of their tires, but because the chassis couldn't safely handle the speed in stock form.

Don't ask me to back this up, because it comes from my memory of reading Road & Track as a teenager.

andre1969

I'd never heard of it. I don't get out much though. Is it any good...worth putting on the Netflix queue?

lemmer

Not really, you had to think it was funny when you were fifteen to think it is funny now. I just thought your extensive knowledge of tv cars might extend to the movies.

I wonder where the "Risky Business" Porsche 928 ended up? Or the "Sixteen Candles" 944?

gsemike

It's not great but it definately has it's moments. I can look at it when I stumble onto it on cable. It's got a great role by the tool Ted McGinley playing the tool.

The car was a major thing in it because the main character (Layne Meyer?) was a born loser and had the Camaro sitting in the driveway for years awaiting a restoraiton and he was driving an old beater LTD station wagon. He hooks up with the French chick, they roll up their sleeves and the Camaro is looking show quality and smoking major tire by the end of the day.

michaellno

I know we've talked about this before ... "Better Off Dead" is a classic 80's "coming of age" movie and should be watched by anyone who was a teenager or young adult during that time.

michaellno

Sorry, it wasn't Ted McGinley in the role of Roy Stalin, it was Aaron Dozier (according to imdb.com).

jaserb

Today I saw a Honda Passport, with a "Powered by Honda" sticker on the rear window. Do you want to tell him, or should I?

-Jason

fintail

That reminds me...I once saw a 1st gen Integra with a "powered by Acura" sticker...that's not what the engine says...

imidazol97

What motors do the Passport and the Acura have?

explorerx4

that's a good one. i wonder who put it there? the current owner or the previous one?

kyfdx

The Passport is a re-badged Isuzu Rodeo... and the Acura engine is naturally... from Honda..

themoon77

"The Passport is a re-badged Isuzu Rodeo..."

and has all the reliability of one! What was Honda thinking?

Edge

bumpy

"The Passport is a re-badged Isuzu Rodeo..."

and has all the reliability of one! What was Honda thinking?

"Uh oh, this SUV thing isn't just a flash in the pan! Crud, we need something to sell until we can get the CR-V and Pilot developed."

fintail

Very nice looking land yacht...somehow I like it

But I like this more. Seems a bit nice for ebay

I don't understand the craze for these - its a marginal car and a marginal boat. For the money I could get a decent car and a decent small boat

I could see Shifty in this

Seems steep even at this price...nice seats LOL

Early AC...there's some significance in that

Now this is a Roadmaster

Nice fuselage survivor

I can't recall ever seeing a Chrysler hearse

Lotsa money for this

Is there anything worse than those wheels?

andys120

I recall reading something about General Mac Arthur's '41 Packard. IIRC it was the first delivered with AirCon.

You have to remember that $1,080 in 1941 is like $10 grand today. :surprise:

fintail

I spotted a C36 AMG today, it was black. It was dirty and the owner didn't notice my car.

I think if that Packard indeed had that AC setup when it was built, that it is worth saving.

Mr_Shiftright

That NSU would be great with a Porsche 3.0 engine in it. Too bad it's so ratty. I'd be tempted to bid and haul 'er up to San Francisco. Looks like it was underwater or something, very nasty.

Amphicars -- people go nuts for these...to a point--which seems to hover around $20,000--$24,000. They are so popular because they create a sensation wherever you take them. You get more attention than a one million dollar classic car would get. So it's "cheap fame" basically. They are otherwise truly awful cars.

Dodge Aspen -- despite the low mileage and the 318 V8, I just don't get this price being bid. There's no justification for it and I've never seen another sell for that. Oh, well, another eBay maniac bites the dust.