Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options

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

12312322342362371306

Comments

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    A couple of well-preserved units from opposite ends of the spectrum:

    -Cadillac Allante, metallic, pearl white paint with good gloss and a black fabric top, small dent on right side, otherwise clean and straight.

    -Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, also clean and straight, two-door hard roof version, Ivory paint not very shiny but they didn't come that way in the first place. I wanted it.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I probably see a fintail or two every day when I drive around the Bay Area.
  • lokkilokki Member Posts: 1,200
    But I don't think many people ever have. I can't even find anything about it on the 'net. Is it for real?

    Candy Green El Ballero
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    thankfully maybe more people will never see it.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Haha a Renault 5. They must have picked it up for pennies in France.

    I can't see spending $5k (reserve price) on that.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Dang, that Armored Truck is cool. Not $50,000 cool, but still pretty cool.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Considering the other vintage 30s iron you could buy for $50,000, it seems a very unlikely bid and probably quite a chore to drive. Perhaps a museum could have it for maybe $20,000--that seems about right for a big heavy old truck.
  • jlawrence01jlawrence01 Member Posts: 1,757
    A couple of notes:

    Do remember that the armoured car was operated by the US Post Office. Back in those times, much of the currency was transferred by the post office (believe it or not).

    The R5 looks pretty cool. Fortunately, I have been smart enough NOT to buy one.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You should buy an R5--many a book has been written about wisdom coming out of intense suffering.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Silver 1971 Ford Torino Brougham with black top.
    Red 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle with black top.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    Oddities seen today...a big tank of a '53 Buick 2 door post, in an appropriate grey color, in nice condition. A nice blue '69 Mustang convertible. And a Ford Courier Diesel, with a funny period sticker on the back that read "Diesel Engine"...as opposed to diesel transmission or diesel hubcaps.
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Sorry - been away a few days..
    Lucky sister-in-law
    Never seen a Rally Cat Capri, but they made a lot of special editions for other markets including here in UK. Capri was a good car, because it was marketed well, and had loads of showroom appeal, but unless you took the handling options it wasn't really that good on country roads - it wouldn't keep up with a Mini, or something, through the bends...
    Of course, the one to get is the RS3100, which was a legend in it's day, but I think virtually all of those were sold to people who put numbers on the doors... Certainly didn't see many real RS3100's or 2600's in the street....
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Another great selection....
    Liked the Armoured car - presumably the sort of thing that Bonnie & Clyde would have held up...
    Also the Lancia 2000 - a sadly underated car.
    The Renault is of course still relatively common over here - paradoxically I kept passing an American market 'LeCar' a year or so back, in everyday use, but it seems to have disappeared now...
    The Toyota is a bit of a time warp car - we got approximately the same model here, and they must have sold millions worldwide, but I bet there are more Bugattis surviving than Corollas of that type - not the sort of car people preserve, really - they are worthy but a bit dull, I suppose...
    The one I really didn't get is the AMC Concord - our Concorde was certainly faster, although a bit more expensive....
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Went over to Paris for le-weekend... Saw a wonderful Citroen Ds drophead - one of the later ones with the faired headlights.. Also an earlier DS saloon, with exposed lights and the shorter boot - I didn't see the badges but it looked like the more upmarket version, not the ID19...
    Also saw a DUKW in the middle of Paris, on British plates, and to keep the amphibious theme, an Amphicar, on the rear deck of a sort of house-boat/barge, moored in the middle of town, but sadly it was night, and we were on a boat, so couldn't really see it properly - it looked good though.
    And a Buick - 59 model, pillarless sedan, it was either an Electra or an Invicta.

    Today, also a good day for old cars in suburban London...
    Citroen H van - the one that looks like a corrugated shed - French plates.
    Next to it - Volvo 221/222 - the Amazon wagon - good condition, but on non-original British plates, so probably imported.
    Morris Minor with the old split windscreen, but with the raised headlights and the later grille, so about 1954-57.
    Singer Vogue - circa 1962-4
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...spotted on a used car lot - silver 1987 Buick LeSabre Estate hearse.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I can't remember what year it was, but one of those LeSabre hearses shows up pretty regularly at the Carlisle swap meets. I remember getting into an argument with someone (either someone looking at it or the owner) who kept swearing it had a Chevy 305, while it really had an Olds 307.

    I thought it would be a neat car to have, but I can't fit comfortably in the things. The partition that separates the front seat from the back keeps the front seat from going back as far as it would in a normal car. Guess I could always ride in the back and have someone chauffer me around! :P
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Old diesel Benz, sitting at stoplight, and literally BOUNCING up and down on its suspension....funniest thing to watch from behind. Finally the car started out and left a film of soot on my car (no really, all over my headlight shields). Yikes, this guy is going to give diesels a bad name....
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    Was it a W201 or an old timer?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Old fintail doing the lambada...
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    Have you ever seen the movie Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo? It's a funny Disney film with a wild chase involving the little VW Bug and a black Fintail, which the bad guys are driving. The two cars eventually encounter a large drainage pipe, which Herbie can drive into because VWs were so narrow. The Fintail wasn't so lucky though- when it tried to give chase, it ended up crashing into the pipe, and half of its front end was smashed up badly. One of the villains ended up with an uneated apple in his mouth.

    In a later scene, the bad guys are talking to their boss, and one of them can be seen in the background with an obviously smoking Fintail...probably a punctured radiator. I'm actually chuckling as I'm writing this because it's so funny! Well not the crash of the Fintail, the villains, because they're so dumb!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    Sounds like a typical fintail owner lol

    And yeah, I remember the bad guys in the fintail in that Herbie movie. I think there's a shot of them at imcdb too. Fintails make good cars for villains...from James Bond movies to that chase in Marathon Man to Herbie, and many others.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    to take me to see that Herbie movie when I was a little kid, but he wouldn't. Instead he took me to see something called "Smokey and the Bandit". I vaguely remember pouting about it, because in my 7 year old mind, all I heard was "Smokey" and thought it was a movie about Smokey the bear.

    Well, I'm glad my Dad won out on that one! I ended up seeing it like three times, total. I think I talked my Mom into taking me one weekend (they were separated by this time) and then getting my Granddad to take me. I think I did the same thing with Star Wars, too!

    Never did get a chance to catch Herbie goes to Monte Carlo, though.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Yikes, this guy is going to give diesels a bad name....

    That ship has already left port, it'll take a generation of new Diesel tech to convince people that they aren't the noisy, fume-laden Diesels of yore.

    I myself wasn't impressed by Diesel Benzes I drove back in the
    80s but I hear they've improved quite a bit.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,814
    I was following a 190 down the interstate yesterday (or rather, it passed me), ... black.. 2.5 litre diesel... I'm guessing early '90s? In pretty good shape for a 15-20 year old car.. I was actually admiring it, thinking it was pretty cool for a baby Benz..

    When... he pulled over to the side.. broken down.. :cry:

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Even the new diesels, once they get funky, don't give a good impression. I saw a VW TDI (a vehicle I genuinely admire) puking soot all over the road. Not good.

    And you know, they still STINK when you walk past them.

    But all this will change, in time, in time....
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    A reporter with a national news magazine is hoping to talk to consumers who drove to Woodstock. If you drove in a VW Microbus with a psychedelic paint job, that would be great too. The reporter will speak to anyone who drove to Woodstock. Please reply to ctalati@edmunds.com no later than Wednesday, March 21, 2007 with your daytime contact info.

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    On my drive home form work yesterday, I spotted an Aston Martin DB9 on the highway. Black with very dark tinted windows. Vanity CO plate that read "HABS" - wonder if it was a hockey player who once was on the Montreal Canadians?

    Then, heading into work this morning, I saw a Nissan X-Trail with Mexican plates on it. About the size of a CRV; in fact, when I first saw it, that's what I thought it was, since the tailights are way up high in the D-pillar.

    Actually not a bad looking vehicle - I wonder why Nissan doesn't sell these in the states?
  • au1994au1994 Member Posts: 3,705
    Could that be what the soon to be in the US Rougue is based on?

    2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
    2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
    2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha

  • mazda6iguymazda6iguy Member Posts: 365

    Actually not a bad looking vehicle - I wonder why Nissan doesn't sell these in the states?


    The X-trail is going to be replaced by the car based Nissan Rogue which will be sold in the US.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    Maybe Mr. Waaaaaaah has a car for CO visits. God knows he has the money...

    I saw something worse than anything else yesterday. A Kia Amanti. But not just a Kia Amanti...a black Amanti with a carriage roof, black tinted windows, and what must have been at least 22" wheels, the car was all jacked up to make them fit. I've never seen anything so bad, and there's lots of tasteless people in this area.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    lol, that's so embarassing. Kia Amanti rolling on dubs. If I had that car I'd leave it stock and try to get the least attention possible.

    As for the Xtrail, 2007 is the last year of that model here in Canada after a short 3 year run (came out as a 2005 model). there are no plans for replacement.

    Not a bad vehicle, about CDN $5k cheaper than a CRV (base model to base model). I like the huge Caddy SRX style sunroof on them. Don't like the centre mounted gauges ala Toyota Echo/Yaris.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • chuck1959chuck1959 Member Posts: 654
    I've seen one like too. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?
    What really gets my is spending 3 times as much the car worth for tires/wheels!! Plus their insurance wouldn't cover them anyway as they are an accessory item.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,814
    The boxy FWD model... with two-tone brown/beige paint.. and a "Baby on Board" sign in the window...

    Talk about being stuck in a time warp!!

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • mazda6iguymazda6iguy Member Posts: 365
    As for the Xtrail, 2007 is the last year of that model here in Canada after a short 3 year run (came out as a 2005 model). there are no plans for replacement.

    I wish they sold the Acura CSX here in the US. Yes, most would say you could buy a Honda Civic SI sedan here, but the Acura is based on the Japanese spec Honda Civic, with different front and back ends.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    And we wish we'd get the 4 door Civic Ci here.

    Apparently the CSX is not as big of a seller as it should be.

    The 2001-2005 Acura 1.7EL had it's own market because of the side airbags (not available on the 01-05 Civics here, leather, and sunroofs.

    The CSX is about $3k more than a top model Civic (EX) and has all the same safety features, save for the different front and rear styling, turn signals in the side mirrors, auto climate control. Leather and navi (both not offered on the Civic here) would be about $5k more.

    The power difference is only about 20hp, but the auto tranny has paddle shifters in the CSX.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Maybe Mr. Waaaaaaah has a car for CO visits. God knows he has the money...

    I don't think he keeps a house here in Colorado anymore; last I heard, he owns and is the manager of a Major Hockey League team in Quebec.

    I actually met him once, in a grocery store. Regular guy.

    Plus, I don't think he's too fond of his old team, based on the circumstances of his trade to Colorado.

    Anyway, enough about Hockey ...
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Wouldn't be surprised if Jay Leno is bidding on that stemaer right now.

    The Stutz, I can't believe people buy them used too! $45k is I think a bit steep for a run of the mill GM car with different body, and no historical significance.

    I wonder how much restored Pierce Arrows are worth? I always like hearing these stories about cars sitting in barns for 50 years. I wonder what kind of rare or "lost" cars are out there for us to find in the future.

    That Fiat is back and I think he's asking more for it than before! I never see it advertsied locally though.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    I think the Stutz is priced about 4x what it is worth. Nobody could pay 45K for such a thing...I hope.

    I think that Pierce is a lost cause, it looks pretty far gone. As a closed car, it's not worth a huge fortune when completed, even as a semi-sporty model. A really pristine one might be worth what, 40-50K?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    Yeah, he's back home...trying to think of someone in CO with money and a Habs connection...hmmm. And with the way Waaaah's tenure on the Habs ended, he wouldn't likely want that plate either.

    On the hockey tangent, I once saw a Porsche Speedster that counted Brett Hull as a previous owner. I guess that's the lowest level of celebrity provenance.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    36 Pierce Arrow -- a person would have to be crazy to restore this car...it's a "stripper" model and really just a shell of former Pierce Arrow glory. The best Club Sedan in the world (and also in other galaxies) might be worth $40,000 if it had a Pebble Beach Trophy in the back seat and bags of silver dollars in the trunk.

    I had to laugh about the "rust-free body"....I wonder what he thinks all that brown stuff is that has eaten into the surface of every single body panel?

    So, $100,000 dollars to make back $40K? Don't think so---use the parts for a real Pierce Arrow, like a '36 Salon Twelve Club Roadster---a 12 cylinder car. Then you have something worth $80K when you're done.

    Car's bid to $5,500 and hasn't met reserve? The seller is totally nuts.

    77 Honda Accord --- I see the bidding is all the way up to ZERO---a stunning testament to the car's collectibility.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,360
    looks nice, but the engine sounds shot. 6K BIN? Insane.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,360
    Hope the wife doesn't find out I started bidding on the '77 Aspen wagon. All due to the 4 speed, of course.

    Hmm, this could be the car for my son to learn on in a few months when he turns 16...

    j/k, since it is already over 3K (reserve not met? another insane seller!)

    Now, if this was local, and going for about $800, I might be tempted to do something stupid!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    a 4-speed Aspen. I think he bought it cuz it was cheaper than the A/T. :lemon:

    It turned out to be a better car than the Vega wagon that preceded it :lemon: :lemon:

    The guy had a real knack for buying rust-prone cars. Too bad he lived in a seaside town.

    Speaking of rust, that '77 Accord must have never been driven. They'd rust if you whispered "water" near them. ;)

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Whoever built that abomination of a '57 DeSoto convertible should be forced to sit down on the hood ornament for a long, long time! :mad: I just hope that the car they cut up to make it was a total piece of junk and not a nice one!

    I wonder how hard it was to mate up a GM THM700R4 transmission to a 341 Hemi? I'm actually kind of intrigued by that swap; I like the idea of an older car with an overdrive transmission. I wonder what kind of fuel economy that would give it?

    And I love that green '78 Electra!
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    the front of that '57 DeSoto seems to have a look that says, "i think something really bad happened to me". :sick:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,814
    In a parking lot... '49 Ford Custom coupe..

    Restored to original condition.. really nice..

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    That '78 Electra brings back a lot of memories as I once had a really nice 1979 Park Avenue. I loved those classy silver instruments.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    -Datsun 510 station wagon, slightly faded mustard yellow paint but otherwise clean, straight and running thru daytime traffic.

    -'65 or '66 Chevelle coupe (I don't think it was a Malibu).
    Looked to be in good driver condition w decent but not perfect light met. green paint and chrome, black Cali plate, parked at an office complex so likely a runner, 283 badge.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

This discussion has been closed.