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

imidazol97

Thanks for the fact. I just use Google straight rather than the image area. Forgot about that. I worry that Google will report my searches to the Feds. Searching for all these classic cars could be ????

andre1969

I like the '60, but I think I like the'66 the best out of all those years. 1966 was the first year, I think, that they went to that more formal, upright grille.

Now one thing I DON'T like about the '66 is that they offered a really formal style that year, called the Town Landau IIRC, that totally did away with the rear quarter windows, and just gave you a thick, blind rear roof pillar.

You could still get a hardtop though, which looked good, and of course, the convertible.

For some reason, I never really cared for the '61-63 style. Can't really put my finger on it, but I think it's because the headlights are too low, and too inboard.

seminole_kev

...I just never really cared for the Thunderbirds after the 50's models. Just a little too weird for my tastes and then just started to get way too porky. 80's Thunderbirds and on (at the time) looked ok to me though.

andre1969

I hated the '83-86 T-bird with a passion when it was new, although I did like the restyled '87-88. But looking back, I just don't know where my hatred came from. Nowadays I see the occasional '83-86 T-bird, and see just how ahead-of-their time they were. It's a style that even looks futuristic today!

If I wanted a personal lux coupe from the 60's though, I think I'd go with a Toronado or a '66-69 Riv. They just had a sleek, suave look to them while the T-bird was more pretentious and showy.

seminole_kev

Love the styling of the Toronado or Riviera, but wouldn't want to deal with 60's FWD technology.

gsemike

The convertibles from the early 60s were really sharp. I loved the one that Matt Dillon drove in the Outsiders. I also liked the 87-88 redesign but hated those that came after it.

andre1969

The Riv back then was RWD...it didn't go FWD until really late, 1979. As for the Toro, the FWD technology was still trickier than a RWD setup, but used mainly existing components instead of going with all-new technology. For instance, I don't think it used CV boots and all that flimsy crap that most FWD cars use. I know the tranny was a modified THM400, one of the sturdiest trannies GM ever built. I think those old Toros were still pretty durable and troublefree. Or, at least, the FWD didn't add much to the troubles. Of course by the 70's you had typical problems like hard starting, stuttering, trim pieces falling off, etc!

I guess one thing that Ford really had to itself back then though, at least through '66, was ofering a convertible version of a personal luxury coupe. There never was a Riv convertible until around 1983, and only a handful of Toro convertibles were built around '84-85. I remember one of the characters on "Hunter" had one. And then there was the infamous '71-76 Eldo, and the '84-85.

I think the only year the Grand Prix was offered as a convertible was 1967.

seminole_kev

Thanks, for some reason I was thinking the Riviera was FWD like the Toronado.

kneeache

I was at a Dallas Mavericks game the other night and they were making all the players drive out of the garage through the plebes parking lot due to construction. Saw a
Bentley Continental GT among others coming out after the game.

lemko

...by my girlfriend - Allen Iverson's black Bentley Continental parked next to her Buick LaCrosse!

chuck1959

Didn't GM used that same FWD set up on their line of 70's motor homes?

I think the only year the Grand Prix was offered as a convertible was 1967.

You are right about that. In 1968 the convertible duties was passed on to the Bonneville.

chuck1959

I was so excited today I FINALLY saw a VW Phaeton! I have never seen one. But what scared me was that at first I thought it was a Passat!! :confuse:

zx24me

I was coming home Monday night and got passed by a late 90s Cadillac Sedan DeVille followed by a Kia Amante with the WaffleIron nose.
The Cad was stock but the Kia had Gangsta Whites, wire wheels, and a phoney spare tire rear bumper kit.
Sick is not a good word for this!

fintail

ROFL that's the worst thing I've heard of

andre1969

yeah, GMC Motorhomes used that FWD setup from the Toronado. I forget what years the GMC motorhome was produced...I want to say 1974-1978? I think earlier ones used solely 455's, but later ones offered the 403. Even though the 455 was discontinued after 1976, engines are often purchased by motorhome builders in bulk, and sometimes don't get used until the coach is finally built, several years later. For instance, Chrysler quit building big-blocks after 1978, but the 1980 Travco motorhome still had a 440. I think they went to Chevy 455's for '81 or '82 though.

There was another FWD motorhome called the Revcon, which was started in 1972 and used the Toronado setup. By the late 70's though, they devised their own FWD setup and started using Chevy 455's. It may have just been a modified Toronado tranny with a Chevy bolt pattern, though.

lemko

Holy smoke! I'd like to see a picture of that abomination!

kyfdx

'80s model BMW 633CSi... Still one of the best looking cars ever..

gsemike

the Kia had Gangsta Whites, wire wheels, and a phoney spare tire rear bumper kit.

This is why we all need to carry camera phones.

fintail

This place is finally back up and running. Wow.

If I wanted an Edsel, this would be a good one to want

You don't see many wagons among these unofficial imports

I like how the gauges mimic the radiator shell

Can't be many of these left, a real oddball

Wagons are hot

Perhaps once owned by John Voigt

Fins on a pickup, a winning idea

Lovely Dodge wagon survivor

Of course I like it, but its a tad overpriced

Neat Pontiac wagon

Andre-mobile

Another Andre-mobile...this one is rarer I think

prosa

That '63 Dodge wagon indeed is a beauty ... but that Chrysler convertible, oh what agony just to look at it! I cannot imagine who would've bought such monstrosities.

Mr_Shiftright

300SL -- somebody has to tell the seller that "what happened at Barrett-Jackson often stays at Barrett-Jackson". If he wants .5 mil for a Gullwing, he'd better get the bidders drunk first. Nice car, though and desirable option. His opening bid is about right for selling.

Chrysler Convertible --- LOL! It looks like a coke machine with a western motif.

andys120

but that Chrysler convertible, oh what agony just to look at it! I cannot imagine who would've bought such monstrosities.

John Voight, according to George Costanza.

I don't think the words "lovely" or "beautiful"
apply to that Dodge wagon or for that matter to any MoPar of the early 60s.

fintail

I wonder what a mint fintail could bring at B-J. One in a good color with wide whites, sunroof and AC of course. 25K? Of course a good restoration would cost you that.

John Voight the periodontist, that is...

I don't think many cars have spawned as many derivatives as the K-car.

Mr_Shiftright

oh goodness no, those are close to cabriolet prices. Maybe $10,000. It would have to be a no reserve car. It's not really a B-J kind of vehicle. (if you check their website you'll see they are rarely listed in auction results) Also I think wide whites would hurt the sale. Fintails rarely do well at public auction...same with BMW 3.0 coupes or Deloreans...some cars are just auction-resistant. Much better to sell in a M-B club newsletter or eBay.

andre1969

the '62-64 Dodge 880 models, because they were kind of an odd combination of 50's and 60's styles. Basically, the car started off as a 1961 Dodge front-end mated to a 1962 Newport body, but then for 1963 they squared off the front-end, and for '64 they squared it off a bit more. The wraparound windshield and rooflines definitely had a 50's look to them though...not really that far removed from the '57-59 Mopar style, even though '60-64 was a whole new design.

For some reason, I think a 1963 Dodge 880 4-door has a nice, clean look to it. And the hardtop coupes were nice.

As for that '76 Electra and Bonneville, I could easily go for 'em both. I'd probably pick the Electra for its larger size, 455 V-8, and more power goodies, although I think the Bonneville's interior is more tasteful. I don't like that fake wood with all the etching on the Electra's door panels.

Oh, and I just got some good news from my insurance company, which might end up enabling my car buying habit. Just got the bill over the weekend, and it dropped by about 30%! It came as a shock to me...only reason I can guess is because I'm now in the 35-39 age bracket? Am I old enough to buy a Buick yet? :shades:

stickguy

You own a Desoto. I think they will let you into the Buick owners circle too.

imidazol97

>old enough to buy a Buick

Anyone is welcome into the Buick fold, as long as you want dependable, solidly built, pleasing in appearance, comfortable transportation. Unless you think your older relatives were dumber with age and bought Buicks because they fell apart more than other models? See JDPowers report

http://www.jdpower.com/pdf/2005069.pdf

I notice they didn't include the DeSoto in their measurements.

andre1969

back in the 50's, I'd imagine that Buick was considered a much more youthful brand than DeSoto! Especially around 1954-56.

bumpy

Am I old enough to buy a Buick yet?

Sure, there's an '86 Grand National out there waiting for you.

andre1969

is one car I've lusted after for ages now! Back in college, around 1990 I remember finding a used '86 T-Type at a Pontiac/Dodge dealer. I would've been sooo tempted, except for one little thing...I had no job at the time! Plus, soon after that I found my DeSoto, and I'm sure if I'd bought the T-type, plus the increased insurance that would've gone with it, that I never would've gotten the DeSoto.

fintail

Today I saw a Camry 5 door/hatch from ca. 1983-1984, in surprisingly nice condition.

kyfdx

The original Camry.. I saw one of those recently... they came in diesel form, as well...

lemko

...nice blue 1962 Chevrolet Corvair Monza with PA antique tags.

fintail

The biodiesel people here would go nuts over a diesel Camry

I also spotted one of those odd 2nd gen Ford Granada 2-door sedans (not really a coupe in my eyes) ca. 1981.

Mr_Shiftright

Buick was the middle class professional's car....like a doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc. in the mid 50s. The car had a good deal of prestige back then, sucking off the greater prestige of Cadillac, which it somewhat resembled. Olds was the bridge between Chevrolet and Buick...or an alternative to Buick. Cadillac of course was flagship. I really like 53-57 Buicks.

lemko

Shoot, I learned to drive on my Dad's 1978 Ford Granada coupe. His was red with a white landau roof, white accented hubcaps and white molding. His car was the update of the 1975-77 version with the dual rectangular headlights.

andre1969

it seemed like for awhile Buick was trying to be everything. The cheapest Special often undercut the cheapest Olds 88, while the Roadmaster and especially the Limited were just below Cadillac. In fact, the Roadmaster (and Limited and even the Super) actually shared the Caddy "C" body, while the Olds 98 was still just on the "B" body, but with a few inches of wheelbase added ahead of the firewall, where it gave you no additional interior room. Now in '59 Buick and Olds were brought more into alignment, and the 98 finally got put on the C-body.

When did the concept of an "old people's" car come out, anyway? I know Pontiacs were considered mainly "retired doctor cars" until Bunkie Knudsen transformed the image in 1957. And DeSotos and Chryslers were considered pretty fogey and stodgy, until their transformation in 1955.

andys120

Oh, about the time the concept of old people came
about. :P

Mr_Shiftright

I don't think Pontaics ever had quite as much class as a retired doctor's car--that's more Buick I bet. Pontiacs were the "old lady's car" or the "librarian's car" up to about 1955 or so, when all GM products got "modern". As soon as Pontiac got all those good looks and HP, the Oldsmobile was on Death Row IMO.

lemko

...may have something to do with Buick's phenomenal popularity 40-50 years ago. A lot of older people remember Buick as a great car in their youth and stayed with the marque into their old age. We probably won't have to wait that long until Honda and Toyota are the "old people's car" as the Boomers rapidly age.

imidazol97

Camrys and Accords already have done that in this area. Buicks have a JDP rating for some good reason. People with years of learning have learned to make buying decisions based on what is a good car for the cost and longevity; I used to buy based on what "I wanted" because of various reasons.

andre1969

Buicks started looking kind of old-fogey to me as soon as they started going to more rounded aero styles. When my grandparents bought their '85 LeSabre, I didn't think of it as an old people's car, even though it had a vinyl roof, wire hubcaps, and whitewalls. There was still just something smooth and stylish about it, IMO.

When they went to the small Electra for '85 and LeSabre for '86, I thought they were actually pretty youthful compared to the cars they replaced. Especially something like a 1986 LeSabre coupe, which is downright rakish.

But when they came out with the W-body Regal for 1988, something about it just seemed dowdy to me. Whereas the previous G-body Grand Prix/Regal/Cutlass could be tailored to be sporty, mainstream, luxurious, or old-fogey, it seemed like for '88 the Grand Prix concentrated on the sporty/boy racer aspect, while the Cutlass Supreme almost went futuristic. Meanwhile, the Regal just kind of went "Golden Girls".

Now I thought the '91 Park Avenue was a good looking car, but something about the '92 LeSabre just seemed like it catered towards an older crowd. And by the time the Regal and Century were redone for '97, while they looked good, it just seemed like mainly older people and rental agencies were buying them.

In contrast, even in the 80's and 70's, Buick just seemed to be a much more widely appealing nameplate.

Honestly though, even though I joke about them to this day, if something happened like my Dad gave me his '03 Regal, I wouldn't be ashamed to drive it. There's other cars I'd rather have, but I wouldn't be ashamed of it. At least, as long as he scrapes the AARP stickers off first! :P

andys120

Meanwhile, the Regal just kind of went "Golden Girls".

My folks switched from Pontiacs to Buicks at about the time they were pushing 60. Needless to say I was disappointed that they replaced their '67 Firebird with a Regal complete with Bordello Red brocade interior but I wasn't surprised.

lemko

...but I have absolutely no problem buying a Buick. I learned at 16 that Buick does indeed build better automobiles. If I couldn't afford a Cadillac, I wouldn't feel deprived in a Buick.

garandman

Humber Super Snipe. Really.

ljay2

I think the idea of an "old people's" car maybe took wide hold with those "It's not your father's Oldsmobile" commercials. When I was born in '47, my father was driving his '40 Olds, first car (he said) with Hydramatic. Ultimately he switched to Caddies, but in the meantime, Oldses provided us youthful adventure--the '56-'60 (at least) Olds was the truly powerful, hear-it and feel-it, of the GM line. No Buick for dad and me.

explorerx4

finny... i missed your posts over the weekend due to the site being unavailable.
that edsel is actally only about 20 miles from me. does not make me want to buy it, though.
the 'sl' doesn't look too overpriced compared to a 'hemi cuda'.

fintail

Yeah...I'd rather have a gullwing than one of the 300K+ muscle cars.

Mr_Shiftright

when the muscle car market goes POOF! a Gullwing will still be worth 300K. I mean, a muscle car is great but it's still a taxi cab with a big engine.

fintail

That's exactly my reasoning. A gullwing is a piece of awesome engineering, and is a fabled car the world over. It will always be worth something. I don't think the same can be said for some of the newcomer big ticket vehicles.